SHENZHEN: A public selection of the most excellent policewoman in this southern city sparked criticism from the public after the police purchased a large number of ballots to support their own candidates.

The event, organized by the Shenzhen Public Security Bureau for the first time, aims to raise the morale of the 2,000 policewomen in the city and build a good image of the police force before International Women's Day, which falls on March 8.

The bureau selected 10 candidates and published their major achievements on Wednesday's Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, the most popular Chinese-language newspaper in the city.

The public was asked to tick five out of the 10 candidates in ballots published in the newspaper.

However, a number of newspaper kiosks were visited by policemen who bought up all the copies of the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, Southern Metropolis Daily reported on Thursday.

In response to the unusual action of the police, the selection office said it was not unusual for policemen or local residents to buy newspapers, and therefore, it would not interfere.

Many commentators argued that a public selection of the most excellent policewoman was unnecessary.

"The candidates, unlike those in beauty pageants or commercial shows, cannot demonstrate their skills before the voters. Although their biographies were published, the information was not enough for readers to make fair and impersonal judgments on their working capabilities," said Li Huaisheng on the online forum of www.rednet.cn

Therefore, he suggested this sort of selection should be done internally.

Another commentator on www.xinhuanet.com, Li Weihuan said: "We all know that the policewomen are working hard, but policemen are also diligent. Is it really worthwhile selecting the most excellent policewoman, or it is just a stunt to attract eyeballs?"

(China Daily 03/03/2007 page3)