China’s Communist Party officials warned of perils of accepting virtual red envelopes
Cadres advised to tread carefully if offered gifts during the Lunar New Year holiday
While exchanging virtual red envelopes over the Spring Festival holiday is now commonplace among Chinese friends, families and workmates, a report in a provincial newspaper has warned Communist Party officials to think carefully before accepting such digital gifts.
According to an unidentified policy and regulatory official from the disciplinary inspection commission in central China’s Hubei province, cadres should “be careful” when receiving red packets online, Hubei Daily reported on Thursday.
Receiving and sending virtual red packets during the festive season is a good way to strengthen ties with family and friends, but for party cadres the tradition could also result in a conflict of interest, the official said.
“No matter what the amount is, a discipline violation could be just fingertips away,” he said.
“There is a clear discipline regulation that prevents cadres from receiving gifts, money and shopping vouchers that would obstruct [their] fair execution of their official duty.”
