China scraps 76 government awards and campaigns

The cabinet decision reiterates that prizes and evaluations which are not associated with government functions must be scrapped

China has scrapped 76 government awards and evaluation campaigns as part of its austerity drive.

The Central cabinet has listed 76 prizes and honours given by various ministries and evaluations conducted by government agencies whose funding will be stopped.

They include, for example, prizes for outstanding education portal website, excellent vocational education teaching materials and selection of excellent tourist destinations, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The campaigns that are being culled feature government evaluations and league tables like "counties that reach safe-use-of-medicines standards" and the appraisal of "certification centres for geo-information professionals".

The cabinet decision reiterates that prizes and evaluations which are not associated with government functions and play little role in government work must be scrapped. Terminated campaigns can not be restored, but might be renamed or rebranded.

The cabinet also called for follow-up cuts in red tape. Supervision of industry associations will no longer receive government funding, the report said.