英闻天下——576 No Lavish Banquets for the Chinese New Year

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　　But in response to the central government's call to reject extravagance and reduce bureaucratic² visits and meetings, many government departments and state-owned enterprises have canceled or cut the budgets of their year-end parties.

 

　　Many restaurants and PR companies say they have less business now than in previous years, because most companies are spending less on their annual parties or have cancelled their bookings.

 

　　Do you know how much a company usually spends on its year-end party?

 

　　Zhang Haiyong, general manager of Red Cursor Culture Media Beijing Company, which organizes year-end parties, said small and medium-sized companies often spend 100,000 yuan, about 16,000 U.S. dollars on year-end parties, while big companies can spend about 1 million yuan, or 160,000 US dollars.

 

　　Bloggers left many posts about the cancellation³ of year-end parties.

 

　　Let's take a listen.

 

　　"I oppose canceling the year-end party. We've been working so hard during the entire year. Can't we have a party, watch our boss dancing wearing skirts and draw for a big prize?"

 

　　"Enhancing frugality⁴ codes for government departments is a good move, but we don't want to see it finally turn out to be a short campaign, and after the campaign all the lavish⁵ banquets just come back. So the government should enhance inspections⁶ and further reform the system."

 

　　"If the banquets are cancelled, then where is the budget going? Is it given to employees as bonus or used to buy them shopping cards? Who knows?"

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