Lawmakers demand better rectification of fiscal violations

Chinese lawmakers on Thursday told authorities to address fiscal violations found in a June audit report.

Lawmakers were deliberating a report by top auditor Liu Jiayi on problems listed in an audit of the central government's 2014 budget, fiscal revenue and expenditure.

Some 5,600 government officials were involved in fiscal violations, and 580 billion yuan (90 billion U.S. dollars) had been recovered by the end of October, Liu said.

Close to 6,000 items in the government rules and regulations were reformulated and revised in the process, the top auditor said.

It is the first time the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee has heard this type of report. Previously, only written reports were submitted .

Lawmakers pointed out illicit overseas travel, misuse of vehicles and receptions, the so-called "three public consumptions."

"Every year we see violations listed in the June audit report, and many of them are recurring," said legislator Liao Xiaojun. "Our correction work has not been thorough enough, and we have failed to root out the problem once and for all. We should do a better job in pushing on rectifications."

Han Xiaowu, another lawmaker, said those responsible must be held to account. "Auditing is just the means, while correcting malpractices found in the audit is the end... If we fail to address problems found in the audit, then what is the purpose of auditing in the first place?" Endi