GOVT ISSUES HOLIDAY WARNING

The central government on Friday issued a notice requiring local authorities and officials to implement the Party rules against extravagance and excessive formality during the upcoming New Year and Spring Festival holidays.

The notice, jointly released by the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council General Office on Friday, forbids officials from using public funds to pay for visits, gifts and banquets during the New Year celebrations. It also forbids them from using public vehicles on private matters.

Officials are also not allowed to take part in highend recreational activities or to use official receptions to host families or friends during the holidays.

The upcoming Spring Festival holiday, the most important traditional festival of the year for most Chinese, falls on Jan 20 next year.

The notice also requires further reductions and simplifications to forums and gatherings within Party organs. It forbids them from using public finances to host galas during the holidays

Local government departments were warned against year-end cash expenditures or issuing allowances, bonuses, or other material benefits to staff members.

In another notice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs required that government departments tightly control overseas travel, including the number of participants, the countries to be visited and duration of trips.

Temporary overseas trips should only include the personnel needed for specific assignments during the trip. Frivolous overseas trips should not be arranged, the notice said.

All temporary overseas trips should be within budget and government departments should not arrange trips beyond their budgets. Government tour groups should not take chartered flights offered by individuals or companies.

Officials at the ministerial level can be accommodated in ordinary hotel suites, while officials below the ministerial level should be accommodated in standard rooms, the notice said.