Financial watchdogs must get tough this year in the battle against corruption and plug any loopholes in the system, Premier Zhu Rongji warned yesterday. "The key is to get tough . . . we must strengthen external supervision on the one hand and perfect our internal control mechanism on the other," Mr Zhu was quoted by Xinhua as telling a conference in Beijing. "In accordance with the need of building a modern financial system and improving our competitiveness and ability to weather a financial crisis, we must make sure that every unit, job and procedure can pass muster under close supervision and are in line with rules and regulations." Cadres must dare to expose violators even if they are senior officials. Watchdogs like the People’s Bank of China, China Securities Regulatory Commission and China Insurance Regulatory Commission must take the lead against corruption, Mr Zhu added. Separately, Xinhua yesterday reported that Fang Yong, 35, a former accountant of the Bank of Communications Ningbo branch, had been extradited from Canada to stand trial for embezzling 1.6 million yuan (HK$1.5 million) in public funds. Fang was hiding in an unidentified Canadian city until November when he was detained over a routine traffic violation and recognised. Xinhua said he would soon stand trial in Ningbo, Zhejiang province.