BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- China will launch a relentless strike to crack down the rampant gambling and punish gamblers, government officials and state-owned company executives in particular, said police chief here Tuesday.

    Chinese State-Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang urged police departments across the country to work together in a battle against gambling, which has "seriously undermined socio-economic development and fundamental interests of the people," as he put it.

    The nationwide campaign will mainly focus on regions where gambling is rampant. Communist Party and government officials, state-owned organization chiefs who involved in gambling activities will receive heavier punishments, he said at a teleconference.

    He listed gambling in overseas lands, on-line gambling and illegal lottery as the major targets of the strike, highlighting that "the campaign will try to block the channels through which many Chinese go abroad for gambling".

    Offices and gambling websites set up by foreign gambling companies will also be shut down, he said.

    Three hot lines and one website address were released at the teleconference for people to report gambling activities to the police authorities. Enditem