Authorities in Hubei Province have launched a pioneering reform abolishing the use of government cars for People's Armed Police (PAP) officials in the Wuhan division in a bid to cut unnecessary expenditure and reduce pollution.

Xie Anding, a publicity official with the Wuhan PAP, told the Global Times Monday that the reform is being carried out on a trial basis at various PAP affiliated agencies, such as hospitals and training schools as well as PAP branches.

The PAP is a paramilitary force charged with internal security and disaster relief. Its members work as border guards, security details for government officials, firefighters and relief workers during disasters, as well as other duties.

The reform is being run on a trial basis before it is introduced to PAP divisions across the country, Hubei-based Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

Xie disclosed that each PAP official will receive transportation subsidies of around 1,600 yuan ($239) a month, but the proposal is yet to be finalized.

However, Xie said cars for senior PAP officials in the city would still be retained.

Official statistics put the number of PAP members in the nation at 660,000 in 2006.

Wuhan is the first city to abolish the use of government cars for PAP officials. The move highlights the growing problems concerning government cars that have long created resentment due to their high costs and special privileges.

About 2 million cars are used by government officials in China at a cost of between 150 billion yuan ($22 billion) and 200 billion yuan ($22 billion) each year, according to a proposal submitted at the annual session of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in March.

The Chutian Metropolis Daily said PAP officials in Wuhan will be required to use their own private cars for work, and that they should be registered with regular car plates.

Zhu Lijia, a professor at China's National School of Administration, said that Wuhan's reform set a good example for the rest of the PAP, but there is still room for improvement.

"Officials should not receive subsidies," Zhu said.