Xu Wenai, the deputy head of the Anhui Provincial People's Procuratorate, was dismissed from party and public functions, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China announced in early August.

A delegation of 10 people led by Xu Wenai from the Anhui Provincial People's Procuratorate were deported upon arriving in Helsinki when Finnish officials caught them arriving on a fake invitation from the Finnish Justice Ministry. The delegation was refused entry and forced to return to China the following day.

The tourist agencies put this down to the work of an unprofessional travel intermediary. However, using a fake invitation letter has long been a trick in getting permission to travel abroad under the auspice of a business trip.

Over the past few years, an increasing number of tourist junkets have been provided with fake invitation letters, with services even extending to making up fake inspection reports after groups return to China. The quality of the invitation letter copy is usually a hallmark of how competent the travel agency is in its deceit. Usually, how well they make the invitation letter shows how competent they are in the whole service. The agency arranging the tour for Xu's delegation failed to find a Finland institution to provide an invitation, so faked one based on an invitation letter issued by the Justice Ministry of Finland with which they had previously cooperated.

The tourist agencies call the real invitation letter a visa letter, while a fake one is labeled as a letter to be approved, reacting to the State's rules on foreign business trips.

At present, governments at all levels have their Procedures of Examination and Approval on Foreign Business Trips for Government Officials, stipulating that the approval report must lay out the goals of the trip. The invitation letter must make clear who is being invited and what they will inspect, in line with the general rules of examination and approval in China.

Due to loud criticism on government officials' overseas travel, foreign affairs departments at all levels have tightened rules for letters of invitation. The text of those issued by foreign countries is usually very brief. This may prove alright with foreign visa officers, but not with Chinese officials in charge of issuing go-aheads for overseas trip. The simplicity will only make them doubt about the veracity of the deal. Well, does it mean that the more high-sounding the tone, the more worthwhile the trip will be? Not necessarily.

According to some travel agencies, most invitations written in elaborate language are fake. However, the foreign affair officials said they would not check with the organizations, which wrote the invitation, as what they cared was the content instead of its authenticity.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection has emphasized that government organs at all levels should take measures to stop illegal trips abroad. As early as October 2, 1993, the general offices of the Central Committee of the Party and the State Council jointly released a notice on forbidding such behavior.

It was reported that Chinese representatives in South Africa, on a meeting held on May 14, delivered a scathing attack on the frequent visits of Chinese governmental delegations to South Africa. "There have been too many Chinese official visitors here, most of whom, I believe, are coming for personal enjoyment under the cloak of a business trip or exhibition tour," said Xie Xueli, chairman of an association for Chinese translators in Africa.

Over 200 governmental delegations head to South Africa every year with half being at provincial or ministerial level. Usually comprised of five or six members and costing between 50,000 (US$6605) and 60,000 yuan per person, over 50 million yuan (US$6.6 million) are spent on official trips to South Africa every year. This is worsened since the government is footing the bill for these misdeeds.

According to some insiders, trip to foreign countries is a perk for the governmental officials. It's said that those at the provincial or ministerial level are allowed to travel abroad twice a year and those at the bureau or department level once a year with the expenses covered by the government. "Why not enjoy the free trip? You won't get a penny for not doing it."

Some circulars issued by the central government stipulate that the officials at provincial or ministerial level are permitted to travel abroad twice a year; those at bureau and department level are allowed to travel in up to two countries once a year within 12 days.

(China.org.cn by Ma Yina, Lulu, August 12, 2007)