Shanghai deputy mayor, 6 others warned

A Shanghai deputy mayor was given a "serious warning" for attending a banquet that had been paid for with public funds, China's top corruption watchdog said on Monday.

As the announcement was made that Zhou Bo had attended the banquet, six other officials who violated discipline were also named in a brief statement issued by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Inspection departments at each level were asked to pay strict attention to disciplinary violations during holidays and required to strictly punish those who ignore discipline, the statement said, adding that serious violators will be named publicly.

In addition to Zhou, Li Jian, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, and Lin Chunsong, executive deputy mayor of Wuyishan, Fujian province, were given a serious warning for expensive rounds on golf courses.

Zhang Jianfei, vice-governor of Hunan province, and Zhou Jing, head of the publicity organ in Binzhou, Shandong province, were also named in the statement after they used public funds for travel.

Also warned were Deng Guoqiang, former deputy director of the Hubei Local Taxation Bureau, for accepting entertainment, and Li Baode, deputy director of the Forestry Authority of Liaoning province, for holding an extravagant wedding or funeral.

"The Party organization at each level must improve its daily inspection and give such a warning when someone makes even small mistakes," the top disciplinary authority said.

Last year, among the 85 million Party members, 71,000 officials were subject to disciplinary penalties for breaking rules.

Gao Bo, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the move to improve officials' work style should be constantly pushed.

"It's necessary to keep working on the inspection of the work style of officials through tougher implementation of the eight rules" on official behavior, said Gao, adding that the crackdown needs the help of the public and all CPC members.

Reuters contributed to this story.