China nets over 100,000 officials in frugality campaign

BEIJING - December 2014 saw 5,340 officials reprimanded for violating austere working practice policies, bringing the total number of those held to task since late 2012 to over 100,000, the top anti-graft body said Monday.

Those punished last month were involved in 4,238 violation cases, the Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in its monthly report.

Violations included disobeying workplace rules; overseas travel and personal entertainment financed by public funds; negligence and lazy work practices; excessive spending on receptions and vehicles; extravagant weddings and funerals; and sending or accepting gifts.

A total of 102,168 officials had been dealt with for breaches of the "eight-point" rules as of the end of 2014.

The eight-point rules were introduced on Dec. 4, 2012, with the aim to reduce pomp, ceremony, bureaucracy and other undesirable work practices. Officials were ordered to minimize meetings, cut government spending and follow strict housing and vehicle standards.