China has announced stringent new guidelines to eliminate the culture of hospitality for public officials. The so-called 'Chinese version of the Kim Young-ran Law' regulates even dining occasions that exclude family or friends.
On the 23rd, the Hong Kong Sing Tao Daily reported that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and the National Supervisory Commission released a report on the 22nd titled 'Clear standards for recognizing violations of regulations by public officials.'
According to the report, violations of regulations regarding hospitality refer to acts of providing or accepting banquets in violation of regulations. This includes providing or accepting banquets that could affect the fair execution of official duties, accepting banquets funded by public money, and organizing or participating in banquets funded by public money in violation of regulations.
It also clearly specified eight types of dining occasions that public officials should avoid, including banquets funded by public money, meals hosted by corporations, dining occasions arranged by stakeholders, and hospitality that could interfere with the execution of public duties.
The report emphasized that while there is no problem with normal dining occasions with family or friends, invitations to meals that could influence fair execution of official duties should not be accepted by party members or executives, regardless of whether public funds are used for the meal. It is a violation of regulations if a subordinate, affiliated institution, corporation, or stakeholder hosts the meal.
Additionally, it is noteworthy that dining in private clubs is considered a violation regardless of who the counterpart is or who bears the expense.
These guidelines come in response to recent controversies arising from excessive internal regulations implemented by some local governments, such as 'prohibition of dining with more than three people' or '24-hour liquor bans.' The party leadership interpreted the release of clear guidelines as a measure to reduce confusion and establish consistent standards.