Different kind of graft

Abuse of power - that's what officials do when they go on overseas sightseeing tours at public expense. A video clip broadcast online late last month showed how a group of district-level leaders from Guangdong province used public money to go on a sightseeing tour of several countries in the guise of overseas inspection tours.

Another group, from Anhui province, was even refused entry into Finland after reaching Helsinki airport because it was carrying an apparently forged invitation letter. Actually, the group had changed the route of its inspection tour for a sightseeing trip to Finland. It was not only a criminal waste of public money in times of economic downturn, but also caused embarrassment to the country.

Though the officials involved in the two incidents have already been punished, the problem is far more serious and complicated than we can imagine. For instance, some travel agencies have become part of such a racket. Apart from organizing such tours, they also help forge invitation letters from other countries. Some tour groups reportedly have even paid extra amounts to travel agencies with the understanding of getting them back during or after the trips. The tacit understanding results in the agencies getting a certain percentage of the amounts as "commission".