Newspaper warns of bribery in form of lucky money

A Chinese newspaper article has warned that despite vigorous anticorruption exertions, bribery survives, albeit in more clandestine forms.

The article quoted media reports that during the recent Spring Festival holiday, giving elaborately packaged presents to officials was not popular.

However, where there is a will, there is a way, and some officials have allowed "lucky money" to be given to their children, said the article in the Legal Daily on Sunday.

Traditionally people give "lucky money" in red envelopes to children during Spring Festival as good wishes for the coming year.

There may be reason to believe that, for some children of senior officials, the red envelopes are more than generously stuffed, said the article by Du Xiao.

Such "good wishes" are nothing but bribes, the article declared and went on to suggest that such circumstances should be clearly defined and regulated.