Officials in S China banned from nightclubs

Government officials in the southern metropolis of Guangzhou will be banned from entering public places of entertainment, local authorities said on Wednesday.

Government officials will not be allowed to enter entertainment venues such as nightclubs, private clubs and discos, according to the newest regulation issued by the city discipline inspectorate of Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.

The latest effort to rein in the excesses of greedy officials, known as "Ten Bans", forbids government officials from using public funds on luxurious meals. Receiving gifts, souvenirs and coupons is strictly prohibited.

The move is another step toward an eight-point code of conduct issued by the central government in 2012 to reduce bureaucracy and boost ties with the public,.

Anyone who violates the regulation will be punished accordingly. The public can report possible cases via letters, phones or the Internet.

The effort is in line with the ongoing campaign against corruption by the Communist Party of China (CPC) that targets both "tigers" and "flies" (metaphors for senior and low-ranking corrupt officials).

The CPC's discipline inspection agencies have been taking a hard line against corruption, punishing about 182,000 officials nationwide in 2013, 13.3 percent more than in 2012.