Latest anti-graft enforcement announced

Disciplinary authorities have identified 220 recent violations of the Party's frugality rules, the country's top anti-graft agency announced on Monday.

A total of 313 Party and government officials have received punishments, from serious warnings to removal from public office, with all names and misbehaviors publicized on the website of the Communist Party of China Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Among them, 42 cases were related to the misuse of government vehicles. Seventeen involved sightseeing tours at public expense, and 10 were lavish banquets paid for with public funds.

For example, Liu Chuanzhao, chief of Liugang village in Huainan, Anhui province, received a serious warning for using public cars to visit his family's tombs.

In another case, Tian Jingxiang, head of a hospital in Houchang township in Liupanshui, Guizhou province, was warned for spending 2,673 yuan ($430) of public money on a banquet to treat an inspection team in January.

The expenses on government vehicles, receptions, and official tours are referred to as the "three public consumptions", and have long been criticized by the public because of the large sums involved.

Anti-graft authorities have found a total of 23 cases in which officials received money and gifts during weddings and funerals for their family members, according to the commission.

Wang Zhixue, an official of Bohai township in Beijing's Huairou district, received a total of 5,800 yuan from township and village officials during his son's wedding on March 16. He was ordered by the authorities to give back the money and to write a detailed explanation.

The commission has forbidden officials from grand celebrations of weddings, funerals and birthdays since some officials have taken advantage of such events to receive money - often as bribes - from subordinates jockeying for promotions, or from businesses seeking contracts or regulatory green lights.

Among the punished officials, 21 were found - during working hours - playing cards, mahjong and video games, shopping online, watching online films or stock trading. Ten officials were punished for drinking alcohol during lunch on workdays.

Chen Shaoyou, an official from Hetang district in Zhuzhou, Hunan province, was punished for watching a cartoon video with a child during work time, according to the CCDI.

Officials were also punished for misbehavior including buying gifts with public funds, illegally subsidizing government workers, being late for work, drunken driving and gambling.

At a recent conference, Wang Qishan, China's top anti-corruption official, urged disciplinary officials to keep a close eye on the implementation of the "eight-point" guideline. Those who violate the rules must be strictly punished, the commission said in a statement released on Monday.

Curtailing corruption is crucial to the healthy development of the Communist Party of China, Wang said at the conference, which was attended by disciplinary officials.

In December 2012, the CPC Central Committee put forward its eight-point guideline to improve the government's working style and keep it close to the people.

Under the guideline, officials are expected to improve work efficiency, lead a frugal lifestyle and abide by regulations on houses and government vehicles.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn