China's anti-corruption chief, He Guoqiang, urged?on Friday intensified crackdown on "small coffers" illegally held by Party and government officials as part of the country's anti-corruption efforts next year.

As of November, a total of 22,884 "small coffers," worth 10.16 billion yuan (1.49 billion U.S. dollars), had been uncovered since the campaign was launched in early June, said He, secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

A total of 270 officials have received administrative punishment for illegally holding "small coffers" for personal use, and 81 had been prosecuted.

He said at a meeting on the progress so far of the campaign that these small coffers must be eliminated as they harm the interests of the country and people and stimulate corruption.

He, also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau, stressed that the crackdown should be focused on departments directly under the central government and those having the authority to impose fines.