Public to increase its supervision of charity

BEIJING - In an attempt to improve transparency and recapture the public's confidence, the Red Cross Society of China is planning to set up a supervision team comprised of people from outside the society by the end of this year.

Wang Rupeng, secretary-general of the China arm of the international humanitarian organization, said the initiative combines both self-discipline and public supervision and is a breakthrough in efforts to strengthen transparency.

The society drew intense criticism and was the subject of speculation about the possible abuse of donations following a scandal in which a 20-year-old woman named Guo Meimei claimed online that she was the general manager of a company called Red Cross Commerce. In her online postings, Guo boasted of a luxurious lifestyle and posted photos of high-end cars and palatial homes.