The Ministry of Supervision (MOS) has promised to punish local governments who build luxurious offices and training centers instead of following the central government's "frugal working style" mantra.

"Officials at various levels should practice a frugal working style and expenses incurred through government meetings and business trips should be strictly supervised," said a MOS statement.

"Government officials are banned from squandering public money wining and dining, taking advantage of their power to buy commercial houses at a price much lower than the market price, gambling or seeking benefits for their spouses, children or other relatives," it said.

At the recent annual sessions of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), several NPC deputies and CPPCC members lambasted local governments for using public funds to build luxurious office buildings.

Shi Heping, a deputy to NPC, said "some local governments are intent on impressing investors with modern and luxurious buildings and trying to make investors believe they are capable and reliable."

"Some of these government officials even embezzle disaster-relief funds to build these so-called image projects," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2007)