The Ministry of Supervision (MOS) has promised to punish local
governments who build luxurious offices and training centers
instead of following the central government's "frugal working
style" mantra.
"Officials at various levels should practice a frugal working
style and expenses incurred through government meetings and
business trips should be strictly supervised," said a MOS
statement.
"Government officials are banned from squandering public money
wining and dining, taking advantage of their power to buy
commercial houses at a price much lower than the market price,
gambling or seeking benefits for their spouses, children or other
relatives," it said.
At the recent annual sessions of China's National People's
Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference (CPPCC), several NPC deputies and CPPCC members
lambasted local governments for using public funds to build
luxurious office buildings.
Shi Heping, a deputy to NPC, said "some local governments are
intent on impressing investors with modern and luxurious buildings
and trying to make investors believe they are capable and
reliable."
"Some of these government officials even embezzle
disaster-relief funds to build these so-called image projects," he
said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2007)