China bans extravagant galas with top stars
Print Edition
China is to ban officials from holding extravagant galas said to be damaging the image of the Communist Party and the government, the latest move by President Xi Jinping to fight corruption.
According to a notice jointly issued yesterday by the Communist Party’s publicity department, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, the National Audit Office, and the State General Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, all areas and departments should bring luxurious and extravagant galas to a halt and encourage frugal event planning.
There will be a bar on using public funds to organize galas, often staged with expensive celebrities.
No government funds should be used to invite high-cost entertainers. Funds from state-owned enterprises should not be used to give a boost to stars, the notice said.
Galas, especially those organized with public funds, that are held just to show off grand scenery, staging or extravagant production elements, have damaged the image of the Party and the government, triggering public complaints, according to the notice.
Child performers
The grandiose performances were “extravagant and wasteful” and anyone flouting the ban will be punished, it said.
Large-scale meetings of the government and the Party, such as those of provincial legislatures, are often marked by variety shows featuring child performers and people dressed up as ethnic minorities.
The notice urged strengthened supervision and inspection of galas, budget control and strict auditing.
Those that cost large amounts of money and create waste will be severely punished, the notice said.
The new rules echo similar demands made of Party and government officials by Xi since he took over as Party chief last November.
He has made cutting back on extravagance and waste a key theme of his administration, seeking to fight corruption in the ruling Party.
Xi has told officials to end the practice of delivering stultifying speeches and staging fawning welcomes from residents of the places they visit and banished alcohol from military functions.
Xi has warned that the Party’s survival is at risk and the country could face unrest if graft is not tackled.
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