Officials given firm warning

As the deadline for the voluntary reporting of extravagant government buildings draws near, the country's disciplinary watchdog warned yesterday that any person or organization trying to conceal violations will face a penalty.

Party and government departments at all levels have until tomorrow to report official buildings that contravene the regulations issued in March by the central government that ban the construction of wasteful and extravagant buildings.

"Perfunctory performance, cheating or cover-ups in the voluntary investigation are prohibited and those involved should be dealt with seriously," Liu Xirong, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said.