Guangzhou officials travel the world on the public purse

A number of government departments and bureaus in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, have been criticized by local residents and netizens after admitting to spending more than 52.47 million yuan ($8.36 million) on overseas trips in 2011.

In their annual financial final accounts, published online on Monday, it was revealed that a total of 5,149 government officials and civil servants used public money to visit 33 foreign countries and regions for study, official visits, investigations, exchanges, international conferences, trade fairs and contests.

But only 24 departments and units have clearly stated their overseas destinations and the reasons for their trips. Fifteen departments and units did not reveal the destinations of their overseas trips. Only one department, the Guangzhou Bureau of Supervision, had no officials who traveled overseas for work in 2011.

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