CHINA is implementing a series of new rules today to reduce corruption, boost railway safety, curb misleading television commercials and generally improve the quality of life for the public.

    Individuals will be required to declare their overseas financial assets and liabilities to the State through the country’s Administration of Foreign Exchange starting today.

    That rule came two days after Xinhua reported that authorities had called for “strict enforcement” of a regulation that was last revised in 2010 and requires officials to report their personal and family assets to the State.

    The more than 20,000 civilian personnel within the People’s Liberation Army will be stripped of the privileges of free public transportation and discounts at tourist attractions. They will be issued a new personnel card distinguishing them from the PLA’s servicemen.

    Another New Year’s resolution for authorities is to increase transparency in the country’s legal system. All judgements, except those involving State secrets or individuals’ privacy rights, will be published online for public scrutiny, and courts across the country will strive to standardize the sentencing system.

    The country’s media watchdog has banned all satellite television stations from running shopping commercials between 6 p.m. and midnight, and limited the screening of such commercials to less than once per hour when allowed, and for no longer than three minutes each time.

    Meanwhile, under a new rule imposed by the railway authority, individuals found smoking, disrupting order on trains or engaging in vandalism will be fined up to 2,000 yuan (US$328) while their employers will be subjected to fines of up to 50,000 yuan. (SD-Agencies)