China's central authorities have issued a circular demanding all Communist Party organizations, government departments and departments of military sector not to pay New Year visits among staff members who may bestow extravagant gifts during the holiday periods of New Year and the Spring Festival (Chinese Lunar New Year) of 2001.
As the New Year and the Spring Festival are approaching, all Party organizations and government agencies should make efforts to help the people, especially those in disaster-hit and poverty-stricken areas, to have good holidays, the circular says.
"Except for regular New Year group visits organized by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, Party and government departments and officials are not allowed to exchange New Year visits so as to discourage the practice of exchanging extravagant presents during the New Year and Spring Festival," it says.
Party and government officials are required to visit ordinary people and help them solve their problems, the circular notes.
From the year on, the circular will be enforced during every New Year and Spring Festival period.
(Xinhua 12/15/2000)
