Refining furniture standards focuses on building a supervision platform to achieve "bright windows"
Jilin Province has recently introduced a new budget standard for the purchase of general office equipment and furniture by provincial government agencies. The regulation, issued by the Jilin Provincial Department of Finance, aims to control and limit spending on common office supplies. It includes items such as desktop computers, laptops, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, and telephones, as well as office furniture like chairs, bookshelves, filing cabinets, and sofas.
The new policy implements a two-pronged approach to managing physical quantities. First, it sets standards based on staff levels and the number of internal departments. Second, it establishes limits according to the actual number of personnel in each organization. Office furniture is also subject to price caps and service life limits, making the policy more practical and easier to monitor.
Government leaders have emphasized the importance of maintaining a lean and efficient administration to gain public trust and improve people’s lives. This initiative in Jilin reflects a practical step toward fiscal responsibility and serves as a countermeasure against the "four winds" — formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance. Its broader significance highlights the need for standardized public spending.
In Hong Kong, government office furniture must adhere to strict guidelines outlined in the "Government Industrial Management and Related Affairs Regulations." For example, chairs are typically priced in the hundreds of dollars. Recently, media reported that high-end office chairs were purchased for a meeting room at the Chief Secretary’s office at a cost of up to HK$5,905 per seat, sparking public debate over whether the expense was excessive.
Beyond furniture, Hong Kong's government also enforces strict rules on official receptions. Meals are limited to six courses or fewer, with leftovers encouraged. All banquets require prior approval, including details about guests, the purpose of the event, accompanying officials, and per capita costs. A recent banquet hosted by the Hong Kong High Court for mainland officials featured a buffet with five dishes and one soup. Violations can lead to public exposure, reputational damage, or even disciplinary action, highlighting the importance of both clear standards and effective enforcement.
With the introduction of “furniture standards,†the question remains: who will monitor compliance? Who will be held accountable? If oversight and accountability remain just on paper, the standards may fail to achieve their intended effect. Therefore, the finance department should closely review purchases made by government agencies, ensuring that budgets are strictly controlled from the outset. The audit department must follow up with thorough inspections, and any violations should be addressed through legal and disciplinary measures. The disciplinary committee should be notified, and if necessary, cases involving corruption should be referred to judicial authorities.
Transparency is key to preventing misuse of public funds. To combat the “luxury disease,†it’s essential not only to set clear expenditure and purchasing standards but also to build a robust supervision platform that allows the public to see how and where government money is spent. Encouraging public participation in monitoring irregularities will help ensure accountability. Only by keeping public power within institutional boundaries and opening up government finances can we truly eliminate the culture of extravagance and waste.
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