A government agency’s ban on visitors bearing Lunar New Year gifts from entering its building to curb corruption has stirred ridicule from the public, state media said on Monday.
The National Development and Reform Commission last month barred people holding large packages from entering its premises in a drastic attempt to prevent its staff from taking ”gifts”, the state-run Xinhua news agency said.
”Anyone with a suitcase or a bag of unusual size shall be checked by guards at the gate of the office compound,” a guard was quoted by Xinhua as saying, citing a decree from the commission.
An electronic system has also been installed across the compound to monitor violators.
Some visitors have tried to leave their gifts with the guard for staff to pick up later, but that also is against the new rules, Xinhua said.
Gift-giving is a long-practised tradition during the new-year period but in present-day China it has become a way to bribe government officials who hold immense unchecked power, such as in approving contracts or land use rights.
According to media reports, of all the officials convicted of corruption, 31% took bribes during the annual Lunar New Year period.
While some academics praised the commission’s move as ”an example for other government bodies”, average people scoffed at the ban.
”What if the visitor prepares a large cheque, or simply goes to the official’s home with his ‘gifts’?” wrote a web surfer by the name of ”Heart of Justice” on one website, according to Xinhua.
He was one of hundreds who have posted comments on websites about the move, most of them ridiculing it.
China is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and critics say that unless the government stops censoring the media, and allows transparency and democracy, few government measures to stem graft will have any real impact. — Sapa-AFP