China is planning a national honors system, including
implementing two regulations on administrative rewards and national
emblems, to boost ethical morality, according to the Ministry of
Personnel.
"Through a strict legal process, people who have made great
contribution to the building of national morality will be awarded
and honored in the name of the country," the People's
Daily newspaper quoted an anonymous ministry official on
Wednesday. He added the honors system stressed the core values of
socialism.
The system, expected to be fully implemented in "several" years,
would consist of multiple levels and cover various fields. After
the approval of the National People's Congress (NPC) and its
Standing Committee, the country's chairman would award recipients
with emblems and honorary titles.
Since the founding of New China in 1949, the country had issued
a series of regulations on awarding inventors, science researchers,
civil servants and others. An official supreme honor system,
however, remained a blind spot.
Some experts suggested the honors could also be granted to
foreigners who had made extraordinary contribution to China in
various fields.
Many Western countries, including the United States, France and
New Zealand, have their own national honors system to reward its
citizens for merit, service or bravery. Most are operated with
multiple classes and different levels.
The British honors system, one of the oldest in the world, has
evolved for more than 650 years, according to the UK Honours System
website.
(Xinhua News Agency January 2, 2008)