The office discovered that four universities, including North China University of Technology, Beijing Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Beijing International Studies University and Beijing Film Academy, had illegally charged fees of 1.89 million yuan to students in the 2004 fiscal year.

In recent years, Chinese audit organs have improved their work and achieved substantial progress in supervising the government, State-owned enterprises and public institutions.

Since 1999, the National Audit Office has launched several "audit storms" by reporting to the top legislature budgetary abuses among dozens of central government departments, involving billions of yuan.

China's newly revised Audit Law came into effect on June 1, enlarging the scope of audits and increasing the auditors' law enforcement abilities.

In the past, only State-owned enterprises fell in the scope of auditing so as to guarantee that state assets would not be abused.

The new law stipulates that this scope be expanded to cover the State holding companies and financial institutions.

The office said they would strengthen their work in agriculture-related fields in the second half of the year and disclose those luxurious projects that harm people's interests.

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