Comic book corruption warning for China cadres

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese New Year is coming early for Communist Party cadres in central China, but not every official may see the funny side of their comic book gift from the country's Commission for Discipline Inspection.

The pocket-sized pamphlet is packed with anti-corruption "policies, maxims and aphorisms" and designed to be carried around to help keep morals in mind at a tempting time of year, the official Xinhua news agency said on Tuesday.

At the Spring Festival, the most important holiday of the year in China, families and friends traditionally exchange gifts and give children red envelopes filled with cash. But crooked officials have joined many gift lists.

"The Chinese New Year is a crucial time to test if the Party cadres are incorruptible," Xinhua quoted Ye Qingchun, top discipline official in central Henan province, as saying.

"The pocket comic books can constantly remind them to keep a close lookout for any possible wrongdoing," he added.

Official corruption, briefly banished after the communist revolution, has flourished since China decided to open up its economy and is now a key grievance for ordinary citizens and a major headache for the country's leaders.

Some 100,000 of the books will be handed out, Xinhua said.

(Reporting by Emma Graham-Harrison; Editing by Alex Richardson)