Sincerity doubted as officials show frugality

Fu Zhenghua (C), vice minister of Public Security and head of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, was seen patrolling with other officers on a busy commercial street in the capital on Wednesday evening. [file photo]

High-ranking officials have hit the headlines with their frugality attempts, but are these real improvements to work styles, or simple posturing?

In one case, a TV journalist came across Wu Tianjun, Communist Party chief of Zhengzhou City, taking the subway to his office on Monday after a meeting.

Xu Jin with Zhengzhou TV said yesterday he watched Wu queue to buy a ticket then followed him as he boarded the train. Some passengers recognized Wu and chatted with him on the subway.

Wu told Xu his office was near a subway station, so he took the subway back.

In another case, Fu Zhenghua, vice minister of Public Security and head of the Beijing Public Security Bureau, was seen patrolling with other officers on a busy commercial street in the capital on Wednesday evening.

He was recognized by pedestrians and this is not the first time he has been seen on patrol in downtown Beijing.

"He often visit police stations and meets patrolling police officers without informing them in advance,"said a Beijing officer who declined to be identified.

When they come to light, such "incognito"trips usually become a focus for discussion among netizens. Some say Wu's story is too coincidental to be true and claim he did it simply for show.