Former senior health official in Beijing spent 4m yuan of taxpayer money on beauty salon visits, local media reports

A former senior health official in Beijing spent 4 million yuan (HK$4.89 million) of taxpayer money on beauty salon treatments, a local newspaper reports.

The revelation was contained in a 29-part documentary series on the perils of corruption that Communist Party members were recently required to watch, according to The Beijing News.

Bai Hong was working in the city’s health bureau at the time of her alleged offence. She was chairwoman of the group that organised sports events, social outings and annual dinners for employees. 

Between 2008 and 2011, Bai made regular visits for beauty treatments, sometimes up to three times a week, often paying by government-issued cheque, according to the News.

The bureau was reorganised into the Beijing Commission of Health and Family Planning in 2013.

In another cautionary tale, the administration of the city’s parks sent staff on a 10-day “business trip” to five foreign cities, but only two hours in total were actually related to work.