China's state asset regulator announced Thursday that it punished 148 people last month for breaking rules within the government frugality campaign aimed at curbing extravagance and improving officials' work style.
In July, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and supervising bodies at state firms looked into 75 cases of such violations.
Fifty-three people were punished for sending and receiving gifts, 23 people for irregular use of government vehicles, and 15 people for attending banquets paid by public funds.
Other irregularities included covering travel expenses with public spending and reception extravagance.
In December 2012, central authorities issued the "eight-point rules," requiring government officials to strictly practice frugality and clean up undesirable work styles, including formalism and extravagance.
Practices such as the use of public funds to buy gifts, hold banquets and pay for holidays have since been strictly banned.
Public data shows that 498 cases of violating the eight-point rules have been investigated and rectified by the regulator so far this year.
