Anti-graft probe into reception spending

BEIJING - The anti-corruption watchdog in Hubei province says it is looking into claims that a county wasted huge amounts of public funds on receptions for provincial inspections official.

According to media reports, Zigui county run up a bill of 800,000 yuan ($125,000) while entertaining a group of eight officials from April 11 to May 9 this year. The group was allegedly also given cell phones and tablet PCs as gifts.

The public has reacted angrily to the accusations, particularly as the county is regarded one of the poorest in China. Its annual per capita net income for rural residents was 3,497 yuan in 2010.