Anti-graft campaign saves $9b public funds

New statistics charting the progress of the anti-graft campaign have been released by the central government, revealing that more than 53 billion yuan ($8.6 billion) in public funds have been saved since the launch of the drive last June, The Beijing News reported on Wednesday.

More than 100,000 people voluntarily handed over illicit money or gift cards worth 520 million yuan during the campaign.

The public fund earmarked for official trips abroad, official vehicles, and official hospitality has been reduced by more than one quarter by 53 billion yuan.

More than 114,000 government vehicles have been canceled and over 96,000 officials have been refused overseas visits.

In addition, 457 luxury entertainment clubs in historical buildings and parks have been shut down and are looking for other business model.

Also, about 3,000 officials have been restricted from attending expensive training programs and seven training programs have been suspended.

The "mass-line" campaign began in June last year to improve the flagging relationship between CPC officials and the general public, by cleaning up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance.