China's General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) has banned sale of "golden books" or books made of gold or silver foils as of May 1 amid concern that such books may be used as a means of bribery, reported Tuesday's Legal Evening.

According to the newspaper, "Golden books", with subjects ranging from biography, articles and handwritings of famous Chinese leaders, to sutra, are priced between 6,000 to 20,000 yuan (US$750 to 2,500), ten times more than ordinary books sold on market.

Luxurious books made of gold, silver foils, inlaid with jewelry or rare wood are forbidden to be published or sold since May 1 and no periodical is allowed to carry advertisement for such books,

Chen Shuyu, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), referred such books to "bubbles of the tendency of conspicuous consumption."

He worried that the "golden books" can used as a disguised means of bribery as news reports found a real estate developer in Guangzhou City bought 15 such books as gifts to government officials during the Spring Festival.

Books made of gold foils are estimated to cost hundreds of yuan in production, but sell at a price 20 times higher.

GAPP officials were quoted as saying that the publication of the "golden books" fosters unhealthy extravagant trend and exerts bad impact on the society.

(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2006)