Dining on public funds

More than 30 invoices for upscale restaurants were discovered in an investigation by the Beijing Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection on recreational activities that made use of public funds during this year's May Day holidays, the Beijing News reported.

According to a member from the commission, a series of policies had been announced before the holidays, forbidding officials from using public funds for personal or recreational activities. The commission inspected more than 20 high-end restaurants, including Shunfung and Jingya, and more than 10 restaurants in the suburbs. They encouraged the public to report disciplinary offenses by calling 12388, a hotline.