Officials punished over trips

Seven officials of a county in Shanxi province were recently punished for organizing overseas trips sponsored by local businesses last year.

From May 30 to Dec 20, the local legislature in Jiaokou, a county under the jurisdiction of the city of Luliang, sent officials and employees on the trips.

Shanxi Daily reported yesterday that the tours cost around 540,000 yuan ($78,000), with all monies provided by local companies.