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Zhu Lilian, a 48-year-old tax collector, is popularly known as "Aunt Lian" in Fuyong, a town in suburban Shenzhen where she works. Among the companies doing business in Fuyong, Zhu is famed as an "iron-faced" woman. In 1997, the taxes she and her 16 colleagues collected amounted 96 million yuan (US$11.6 million), ranking the second in Bao'an district where Fuyong town is situated.
Zhu has been working with the tax administration for more than 20 years. "No one can be a veteran in the career of tax collection," as is said. To catch up with the changing situation, Zhu attends classes three or four nights a week. Her diligence moved her young colleagues and they, too, study hard. Her branch of tax administration often ranks among the tops of the district in various checks and examinations. Zhu also sets up strict regulations for tax collection: to make all the bills and notes in good order and available anytime, to guarantee no less collection of tax and no formality missing; and to conduct strict auditing procedure in every process. Zhu's Fuyong tax station has been awarded as "advanced unit" for the past 10 years. This year, Bao'an branch of Shenzhen Tax Administration chose Fuyong as an experimental spot for the Sunshine Project which puts the tax collection under direct supervision of tax payers and the society as a whole.
Of course, as a tax collector, Zhu faces numerous temptations, as a Chinese saying goes, "One can hardly avoid wetting one's shoes if one keeps going by the water." Once, Zhu and her colleague discovered a tax evasion of 1.1 million yuan (US$133,000) by a construction company. The finance manager of the company visited Zhu's office and attempted to bribe her by offering her an envelop full of cash. Zhu refused determinedly and demanded the company to pay their tax plus a fine.
"I've offended a couple of relatives, bosses, and even some leaders who tried to intercede for tax evasion. But I am still convinced that it is my duty to maintain the dignity of state taxation and I will never do anything against my will and principle."
Her loyalty to the Party and people won her respect from the society. Now a deputy to the 16th party congress, she is in Beijing, ready for the congress.
(China.org.cn November 11, 2002)
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