Searching for solutions

Neither Fan Songqing nor Ye Qing agree with this observation.

"I don't think brain drain will happen. The civil service exam is still quite popular, and new promising recruits snapping up vacancies immediately," Fan said.

Ye believes that the civil service is not for anyone hoping to get rich.

"Public servants are those who serve people whole-heartedly. Earning money is the last thing to worry about. Both ability and political integrity are demanded of a qualified public servant. I don't feel sorry for those who have left due to low salaries," Ye said.

He Wenkai said that, first and foremost, officials must have a desire to proactively serve the people.

However, some argue that it's unrealistic for all public servants to measure up men like Jiao Yulu (1922-64), a traditional example of the honest Party cadre who devoted himself tirelessly to combatting economic backwardness in rural Henan Province.

Many have suggested increasing public servants' salary, especially those at the lowest levels of government. In late August, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee approved a plan for reforming incentive mechanisms for public servants.

Some areas are already experimenting with salary reforms.

Cao Puhua, director of a local organization department in Hunan Province said that his prefecture has established a salary raise system for grass-roots officials tied to local economic development. "This year, in some villages, the village party secretary's remuneration surpassed 15,000 yuan a month. This way, capable people want to stay and serve the people as village officials," Cao said in a recent online chat with netizens on people.com.cn.

He Wenkai advised increasing wages while prohibiting any use of official posts for profit. He also suggested that supervision of officials should be strengthened by giving the public more say on promoting, demoting, or dismissing officials.