Official 'perks' disappearing

Liu Xiaoyang (pseudonym), a department chief from a ministry-level department in Beijing, revealed that he and his colleagues have become reluctant go on business trips.

"It's not because we don't want to go, but we cannot afford the expenditure. Days ago, I accompanied my department chief on a business trip to Wuhan, I 'lost' 400 yuan ($65)," he told Phoenix Weekly.

According to regulations, as a division chief, Liu is entitled only to a seat in coach. But when his department chief asked Liu to join him in first class, he could hardly say no. He ended up having to pay the 400 yuan upgrade fee himself.

There are also other complaints.

According to Liu, the business trip allowances for lodging and food for a division chief like him are 80 yuan and 50 yuan per day. But even a room in a cheap motel costs much more than 80 yuan in most cities in China.

However, Ye Qing denied this was a major issue. "Such occasions are few. The government has increased subsidies. And allowances are higher when the destinations are major cities like Beijing," Ye said.

Ye said that it was previously common practice for the receiving party on business trips to cover all expenses, including lodging, catering and even transportation for the visiting officials. "Some would claim reimbursement from their employers after they went back [to their home cities], even though they hadn't paid a penny for their trips," he noted.

But since the central government has tightened controls on public expenditures, receiving parties no longer pick up the check.

"So when this 'illicit' income was cut, some feel uncomfortable," Ye added.

But Ye said government vehicle reform and transportation subsidy systems need to be improved. In some areas, vehicle subsidies are still inadequate for officials to make field inspections and get their work done.

One staff member surnamed Wang, who is in charge of securing attendance by high-level political officials at high-level forums organized by his department in Beijing, admits that it's getting increasingly hard to find attendees.

"Most don't want to go on business trips outside their city. Reception standards have been lowered, and they don't dare to take gifts. Even if they go and try to organize a private banquet with local friends and officials to network, they find it hard to get people to show up," Wang was quoted as saying by Phoenix Weekly.

Many attribute the sharp decline in domestic high-end catering services to the cut in public expenditure on reception. Service providers are either shifting their focus to middle- and low-income consumers or moving into non-catering businesses, such as high technology.