When Deng Jianhua, a senior official with the political advisory body in Shaoguan City of south China's Guangdong Province, was holding a lavish wedding banquet for his daughters, he didn't know he would be punished for violating China's 2012 frugality code months later.
On Dec.4, 2012, the newly elected leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) introduced eight-point rules to improve officials work style, showing its determination to fight the lingering problems of formalism and bureaucracy and reject extravagance among Party members.
"I didn't take the eight-point rules seriously. I thought it was just another government document full of empty talk. Now I regret what I have done," said Deng who was disciplined in September.
Three years have past since the austerity codes took effect. As of the end of October, some 104,900 violations have been reported nationwide and over 138,800 officials were subject to disciplinary action, CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced on Thursday.
The country's frugality rules have brought major changes to the minds of Chinese officials and Chinese politics and have been lauded by all Chinese.
A NEW BEGINNING
The eight-point rules, which were adopted only 20 days after the new CPC leaders were elected, have been dubbed by many as the beginning of CPC's effort on comprehensive and strict rule of the Party and combating corruption.
However, like Deng, many considered the new rules as rhetoric at first, until the CCDI exposed six violations for the first time on March 19, 2013.
The six cases involved using government vehicles for personal errands, providing unauthorized subsidies, using public money to hold extravagant receptions and travel, which used to be commonplace in the country.
"Only when people saw someone disciplined or demoted for violating austerity codes did they finally realize the importance of abiding by the rules and taking them seriously," said Xie Chuntao, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
AN UNREMITTING EFFORT
During the three-year adoption of the eight-point rules, the CCDI has introduced a series of measures to deal with the undesirable work habits.
Since August 2013, the country's top graft watchdog established a monthly reporting system to monitor the implementation of frugality rules nationwide.
