The message was sent from the firm’s party committee to staff who are members of the Communist Party on 23 February, according to the Financial Times.

The move is in line with a campaign by Beijing’s accountants’ association and similar party pin drives carried out at state-owned groups and private companies since President Xi secured a third term as leader of the party in October.

Although most of the country’s party members are expected to always wear their party pins at work, observance of the practice is generally higher during politically sensitive times.