Shenzhen officials must seek approval to hold weddings, birthday parties

Officials in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province will be required to apply for approval if they want to hold a wedding or funeral ceremony starting from December 1, in another sign of tightening regulations on government workers amid the ongoing antigraft drive.

According to the local newspaper, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, the city’s disciplinary authorities have developed a supervision management system which will begin to operate on December 1. From then on, officials and their relatives will have to use to the system to apply for permission at least 10 days in advance of holding a wedding, a funeral or even a birthday party.

According to the new regulation, “relatives” include an official’s spouse and immediate family. Private celebrations include wedding receptions, birthday parties, housewarming parties, or gatherings to celebrate a job promotion, or winning an award.

Using the new system, government workers will have to declare the theme, time, place and the number of people they intend to invite to their celebration.

If an official must hold a funeral for their immediate family, they can report the event verbally but must provide details within 15 working days.

The submitted applications will be sent to chief supervisors for review, and replies will be given within 5 days.

In June, the city government of Tianjin asked all employees in the local public sector, including government departments and State-owned enterprises, to report all overseas trips.