Officials from five central departments met yesterday to study the
supervision of relief funds for areas affected by the May 12 earthquake, amid
rising public concern over the issue.
The five departments were the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
(CCDI) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the Ministry of
Supervision, the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the
National Audit Office.
The participants agreed to set up a leading group with officials from the
five departments, to be managed by the Ministry of Supervision.
They also decided to issue special regulations on the distribution and use of
relief funds as soon as possible. The authorities will step up the supervision
and auditing of fund use and release information regularly.
They pledged to severely punish anyone who embezzles relief funds, with
offenders to be sued by judicial departments.
According to the latest official figures, domestic and foreign donations
stand at 29 billion yuan (about US$4.15 billion).
