Shenzhen officials must apply online to hold wedding banquets, funerals

Officials in the southern city of Shenzhen will have to apply to an online government system if they wish to hold wedding banquets or funerals.

From Dec 1, all officials in the city should apply 10 days in advance to get approval for such events, according to the disciplinary inspection commission of Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

An online application system developed by the commission is already in trial operation.

Events for the new system include wedding banquets, birthdays parties, housewarming parties, promotion banquets and work transfer banquets of officials, their spouses and close relatives.

To hold such events, officials should fill in an online form, clearly stating the venue, time and the number of attendants. Applicants must promise to have self-discipline and be thrifty.

They must pledge not to take gifts and money from those under their management, and not use public funds to host the events. Even with their own money, the events should not be too lavish.

The commission said that officials holding funerals for their close relatives could report directly or via telephone. But they should fill in the online form within 15 days of the funeral being held.

Anyone who fails to follow the new process will face severe punishment, the commission said.

Since late 2012, more than 280 centrally-administered officials have been investigated for corruption, with more than 1.4 million Party members or officials receiving punishment.