THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
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Anti-graft campaign hit moon cake sales in China

Anti-graft campaign hit moon cake sales in China

Sales of mooncakes in Guangdong province have plummeted after China's top anti-graft body banned the use of public funds to purchase the Mid-Autumn Festival delicacy.

Sales in Wuchuan, a major production center for the cakes, are running at 50 per cent of last year's levels, according to the Wuchuan Association of Mooncakes.
Guangdong is famous for the production of Cantonese-style mooncakes. In previous years these have accounted for half of all mooncakes sold nationally and a large proportion of those exported.
Wuchuan, dubbed the country's Mooncake Capital by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce in 2012, sold mooncakes worth more than 1.5 billion yuan (US$243.9 million) during last year's festival season, generating tax revenues of more than 100 million yuan.
The ban was ordered by the Communist Party of China's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Monday, is an occasion for families to reunite and eat moon cakes. 
In a speech delivered at the seventh meeting of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Standing Committee, held in Beijing on August 25, Wang Qishan, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, criticised the Chinese tradition of giving mooncakes, which he said creates opportunities for corruption to occur. He noted that cellphones, jewellery and money are often hidden inside moon cake boxes or baskets.
The August meeting was held to discuss the implementation of Xi's eight rules to promote austerity and fight bureaucracy and extravagance. Wang said the rules will change official work styles and win over the public, Phoenix Satellite Television reported on Thursday.
Wang said that the ongoing campaign against extravagance and corruption will continue for at least five years, adding the fight against corruption is a war that "the nation cannot afford to lose". 
The central government's fight against lavishness and graft began in November 2012, when President Xi Jinping took office.
The CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection opened a "special tipoff section" on its website in early August inviting people to report officials who are spending lavishly or using public funds to buy gifts during the festival. Officials found in violation of the rules will be named in a weekly report on the commission's website.
 
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