China starts 5-year ban on new govt buildings

The directive orders all CPC and government departments to rectify the misuse of office buildings, including those that are used for functions that have not been approved.

The directive says CPC and government officials with multiple posts should be each given only one office, while offices for those who have retired or taken leave should be returned in time.

Local authorities should establish or perfect the management of government buildings by strictly verifying the buildings' size, according to the directive.

Departments that have moved to renovated or newly-built locations should transfer the original office blocks to government office administrators in a timely fashion, according to the directive.

Departments and units at all levels should address the office shortage caused by adding new institutions by themselves. If the additions do not meet their needs, government office administrators should adjust existing resources to solve the shortage, according to the directive.

Strict approval procedures are also required for renting new office blocks, according to the directive.

"Banning the building of new government buildings is important for building a clean government and also a requirement for boosting CPC-people ties and maintaining the image of the CPC and the government," according to the circular.

Leading officials should take the lead in the campaign and relevant departments should map out measures for its implementation as soon as possible, the circular says.

Departments in charge of investment should perfect approval procedures and internal supervision,while financial departments should tighten the management of public finance budgets by refraining from allotting funds for building projects without going through relevant approval procedures, according to the directive.

The renovation of existing government buildings and the construction of new buildings should be made public, the directive says.

Land and resource management departments should tighten land supplies and management, while auditing departments should strengthen supervision over renovation and construction projects, the directive says.

Discipline inspection authorities should look into violations related to such projects, the directive says, adding that those responsible for allowing projects that violate regulations should be harshly punished.

Relevant departments should report their progress to the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council before Sept 30.

The general offices will supervise and inspect new renovations and construction, as well as inform the public of such inspections.