Party Officials Say: No Holiday Feasts at Public Expense ����All Party and government bodies and leading officials in China were told January 25 to refrain from feasting at public expenses, accepting gift money or making trips at public expense during the upcoming Spring Festival. ����The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Ministry of Supervision reiterated their annual warnings January 25 in a joint circular, and called on officials at all levels to offer help to people in difficulty to make sure they will have a happy holiday season. ����"Officials who are found to be indifferent to the hardship of the people in areas under their jurisdiction, or inappropriately handle certain issues, shall be investigated and punished accordingly," the circular said. ����The Spring Festival, which falls on February 16 this year, is the Chinese Lunar New Year and the most important holiday of the country. Most Chinese will have seven days off for the holidays and the great majority of them will travel to visit their families. ����Party and government organizations and leading officials must abide by financial regulations and not invent excuses to give out extravagant bonuses, goods or government-subsidized shopping coupons, the circular said. ����All meetings and social occasions, if necessary, should be reduced in scale and follow the principles of austerity, frugality and practicality, the order said. ����Government cars and public money must not be used for private occasions such as weddings or funerals during Spring Festival, and officials are forbidden to use these occasions to collect gift money, the circular ordered. ����"Superstition and gambling must be rigorously opposed also," the circular said. HomeNews 1999-01-26 Page1 Full Story in Chinese