The Chinese government is to ban the construction of wasteful and extravagant official buildings, including departmental hotels and entertainment centers.

A circular from the State Council and the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has detailed a list of features prohibited from government buildings.

It includes:

-- lobby areas higher than a single storey.

-- meeting rooms equipped with simultaneous translating facilities.

-- indoor gardens.

-- atriums.

-- stage areas with audio-visual equipment

The construction of "luxurious" government buildings had incurred many public complaints, said the circular.

It sets a cost limit of 4,000 yuan (512 U.S. dollars) per meter in the construction of ministerial level buildings.

The circular required all government officials to be frugal in spending public money since China was still a developing country.

The circular ordered finance and expenditure officials to thoroughly inspect construction plans of government buildings.

"The government will veto plans for any multi-functional meeting or training centers of government departments or institutions," the circular said, referring to the addition of restaurants and hotel-style accommodation in government buildings.

"Nor will funds from the government budget be allocated to renovate existing centers."

All government office buildings should be "stately", simple and practical without "luxurious" interior or exterior decoration, the circular reads.

The elevators, heating and air-conditioning facilities in these buildings must be environment-friendly and energy-efficient.

All funding for the construction of government buildings must be allocated from the central budget. Bank loans or donations under any guise are prohibited.

It also required departments and institutions in charge of construction planning and auditing to thoroughly investigate government buildings constructed in recent years or those under construction.

The circular stipulated that excessive space could be confiscated and sold if the constructions violated government rules.

Source: Xinhua