The old Chinese saying that "a son must pay a debt contracted by his father" proves to be the opposite for retired official Hou Baoyin, who lost his son and daughter-in-law to gas poisoning but remained committed to paying his son's debts.

Hou voluntarily put up a notice to pay the debts of his departed son in his hometown, a village in Botou, North China's Hebei province, Beijing News reported.

The notice said that "the debt will not die like the people, and anyone can claim the money back from me with proof."

Hou, who had three sons and one daughter, lost his third son and daughter-in-law on Dec.9, 2009. Since then, he has paid back 20,000 yuan (US$2,929) to those who claimed to have lent money to his son. Hou estimated that the debt his third son left totaled 35,000 yuan (US$5127.5).

"Most of the debt owners have no proof, and I only decide by their conduct,"said Hou.

With a pension of 2,000 yuan (US$293) per month, Hou is still short of money and has to be frugal to save up and pay off the debts, the report said.