Prawns and free haircuts banned at China's Party Congress as Xi Jingping tackles extravagance
Prawns are off the menu at China’s Communist Party Congress as President Xi Jinping seeks to tackle extravagance among officials in a country where the wide distribution of wealth is a major source of anger.
Delegates have also been warned not to expect complimentary hotel fruit or free hair cuts at the high-level political gathering, which begins on Wednesday in Beijing. President Xi’s campaign against corruption and high-living bureaucrats has proved popular in China, where anger is often directed against officials wasting public money.
Wang Lilian, who has been responsible for providing hospitality at three previous party congresses, told China National Radio that delegates will no longer enjoy perks that were previously offered.
“There won’t be any fruit put in rooms,” he said. “In addition, the restaurants will serve home-style food….no sea cucumber or prawn or the like.”
Free haircuts and beauty treatments will also not be available at this year’s congress, Mr Wang said.
China on Wednesday opens its twice-a-decade political gathering, which is expected to last for a week. President Xi is likely to cement his power and enter a second five years term as China’s leader.
The 19th Party Congress will see 2,287 delegates converge on Beijing to select members of the 205-person Central Committee.
The committee will then select a 25-member Politburo before an all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee is unveiled.
Mr Xi has launched an austerity drive which includes a campaign for simple meals with the slogan “four dishes and one soup”.
He has also carried out a wide-ranging crackdown on graft which has seen 1.34 million low-level officials being investigated and jailed since he took power in 2012, authorities said earlier this month.
Observers say the anti-corruption drive lacks transparency and has been used to cement Mr Xi’s grip on power by removing potential opponents.
Additional reporting by Christine Wei
