BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has issued a circular reminding the public of a hotline to report corrupt and illegal practices during the election of local party committees.

    Party members will elect senior cadres in provincial, municipal,county and village committees throughout this year and next.

    The organization department of the CPC Central Committee has decided members of the public could call the "12380" hotline to report any breach of discipline, but in particular, it was seeking information on:

    -- leading officials violating the regulations on cadre selection;

    -- instances of candidates violating discipline, being dishonest or failing to implement the conception of scientific development;

    -- nepotism, or appointments in return for bribes or favors;

    -- bribery of election officials;

    -- defamation and smear tactics by officials.

    The organization departments of local Party committees were instructed to deal promptly with information, to thoroughly investigate all reports and to punish corrupt and dishonest officials accordingly.

    The organization department of the Central Committee opened the hotline in March 2004. Since then, organization departments have investigated 27,616 allegations via the hotline, and 3,591 officials have been penalized or prosecuted. Enditem