Private clubs targeted in fight against graft

Private clubs are to be prohibited from operating at historical sites, parks and other public facilities under a regulation issued on Monday as part of efforts to tackle corruption.

The regulation, from the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, is aimed at combating extravagant lifestyles and bureaucracy among officials.

Private clubs - including high-end restaurants, spas and hotels - in public facilities have become covert breeding grounds for corrupt practices, which have damaged the public interest and triggered strong discontent among the public, according to the regulation.