Abuse of power - that's what officials do when they go on overseas sightseeing tours at public expense. A video clip broadcast online late last month showed how a group of district-level leaders from Guangdong province used public money to go on a sightseeing tour of several countries in the guise of overseas inspection tours.

Another group, from Anhui province, was even refused entry into Finland after reaching Helsinki airport because it was carrying an apparently forged invitation letter. Actually, the group had changed the route of its inspection tour for a sightseeing trip to Finland. It was not only a criminal waste of public money in times of economic downturn, but also caused embarrassment to the country.

Though the officials involved in the two incidents have already been punished, the problem is far more serious and complicated than we can imagine. For instance, some travel agencies have become part of such a racket. Apart from organizing such tours, they also help forge invitation letters from other countries. Some tour groups reportedly have even paid extra amounts to travel agencies with the understanding of getting them back during or after the trips. The tacit understanding results in the agencies getting a certain percentage of the amounts as "commission".

Though different from taking bribes, such a practice is nevertheless corruption. And corruption in any form is abuse of power. Worse still is the possibility that some leaders could take the practice as normal because it benefits more people than in the case of bribery.

The central authorities - the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council - however, have issued a document telling governments at all levels to stop the practice. The document requires governments at all levels to tighten control over budgets and strictly follow the assessment and approval procedures for overseas inspection tours. If implemented properly, the rules will make it impossible for officials to go on phony trips.

But what if a delegation comprises leaders from multiple sectors? We should not forget that often the culprits are leaders. In fact, almost all delegation members in the two cases cited above were leaders of either local governments or local government departments.

That brings us to the question: how to use power for the good of the people, and not personal benefits? Scrupulousness in leaders is the answer. As Premier Wen Jiabao said during his online chat with netizens on Saturday, a better mechanism to hold power in check is the key to the fight against corruption.

Besides, government officials - especially leaders - must be made to realize that their paycheck comes from taxpayers, and they are paid to work for the people. So if they make money by abusing power they will not only be answerable to the judiciary, but also the people.

(China Daily March 3, 2009)