Aggressive auditing

The annual report that Auditor-General Liu Jiayi made to the top national legislature on Wednesday has underscored many problems in the use of public funds in 2007. It should serve as a reminder that government departments and related agencies must better discipline themselves in the face of a surging fiscal surplus this year.

According to the top auditor's annual report to the National People's Congress Standing Committee, central government departments and their subordinate units misused or embezzled about 4.52 billion yuan ($661.09 million) last year, for which 14 officials have been detained.

By naming 10 central departments, including the education and commerce ministries, the National Bureau of Statistics, State Administration of Taxation and the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, as the violators, the National Audit Office has given a warning to all government agencies against mismanagement of public funds.