Austere China bans extravagance, bureaucracy

Hubei

Hubei province has ruled conferences held by provincial departments should not be more than once per year; No provincial-level meetings should be held during busy farming seasons and during flood control and drought relief periods except for special situations. Provincial leaders who assume double positions cannot attend ribbon-cutting and foundation laying ceremonies. Official documents should be no more than 3,500 Chinese characters, and inspection reports should be less than 3,500 characters.

Provincial Party leaders should not go overseas on business more than once a year and other leaders no more than once every two years.

Road blocks should be banned and people's normal work schedule should not be affected when provincial leaders make inspection trips or attend official activities.

News reports should be improved and stories on provincial leader's conferences should be cut to focus more on the people.

Officials should investigate grassroots areas that have difficulties and complicated situations. Inspection tours as a mere formality should be prohibited. Random inspections are encouraged.

Shandong

Shandong's 10 rules ask local officials to deepen their understanding and research especially at grassroots level by visiting an areas for at least for two months a year.

The rules calls for a reduction of meetings especially unnecessary commemorations, symposiums and commendations. Officials attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies, foundation-laying or celebrations should be strictly controlled. .

Officials should stay in designated hotels with plain facilities. They are forbidden from accepting gifts, souvenirs, and banned from luxury meals. The police should not be used to clear roads for officials. Officials should enhance the self-discipline of their relatives and staff, strictly executing housing and vehicles rules.

In addition, news reports on local authorities should be simplified according to its news value.