NewShenzhen government office shells out 310,000 yuan for three trees

A grassroots government office in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen spent over 300,000 yuan to buy three trees in 2011 as part of a programme to "beautify" the city ahead of the World University Games, government auditors have found.

The Huangmabu community office, under the Bao’an District, paid a total of 310,000 yuan for two camphor trees and one autumn maple were in 2011, the Guangzhou-based Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

Luo Minwei, Party secretary of the community office, was quoted by the newspaper as saying  camphor trees were bought “at a discount” when tree prices rose that year as Shenzhen was hosting the World University Games.

The Shenzhen Audit Bureau’s 2013 report found government expenditure on forestry and water supplies wasteful, citing the expensive trees as one example. It did not say why it took it two years to notice the 2011 purchases.

Money used to buy the trees was part of the 400,000-yuan subsidy given by Bao’an district government for a province-wide “10,000 Green Villages” project, Luo said.

The Southern Metropolis Daily said it found two camphor trees outside the Huangmabu community office and was unable to locate the autumn maple.