China exposes cases of decadence by officials

BEIJING - The disciplinary arm of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Tuesday detailed eight cases of violations of the Party's eight-point decision on improving official conduct.

The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said exposing the violations sent the signal that enforcement of good conduct will only become stricter, and that authorities have strong resolve and perseverance.

In the exposed cases, some officials concealed dining at the government's expense, some accepted or requested cash gifts during weddings and other occasions, and others used government funds to pay for overseas travel.

In one case, a municipal meteorological bureau in central Henan province forged receipts to cover dining and hotel costs for a work inspection group led by the provincial meteorological bureau chief. They were treated to three bottles of expensive liquor worth a total of 3,930 yuan ($614) and stayed in hotel rooms that exceeded the budget limit.

In another case, a bank manager in a city in Inner Mongolia autonomous region organized employees to vacation in Sri Lanka and reimbursed 25,532 yuan of their travel bills.

The CCDI said officials involved in all the exposed cases had been punished, serving as a warning and lesson to Party cadres at all levels.

The CCDI stressed perseverance in addressing the practice of formalities for formalities' sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and to oppose privilege-seeking attitudes and behaviors.

The CCDI ordered strengthened supervision of official conduct before and during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, pledging zero tolerance for officials who cross the "red line."