BEIJING, Feb. 14 -- The Ministry of Civil Affairs has called for sound management of social groups entering the realm of children's charity in a bid to prevent illegal profiting.

The instruction was carried in a document released on Friday on the ministry website that serves as a guideline for charity activities for children.

Late last year, seven Chinese charity groups failed an annual state check and 12 were deemed "basically qualified," a term indicating room for improvement, for misconduct including for-profit projects and misreporting of charitable spending.

Friday's document also specified the government's "leading role" in charity for children, stressing that civil affairs authorities should not relegate their duty and missions to charity groups or appropriate charity fund as government subsidies.

"Any individual, charity groups and companies with the heart and the resources are allowed to conduct charitable activities for children in accordance with laws and regulations, and those hindering their efforts should be deterred," the document said.

Civil affairs departments at all levels were also told to help social charity units collect target children's basic information and coordinate care and support for orphans and those who suffer from severe diseases and poverty.