Not surprisingly, the top anti-corruption watchdog has once again acted to forestall possible malpractices involving the use of public money to buy moon cakes and other gifts during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays as part of its ongoing campaign against extravagance and corruption.

On Sept 6, the publicity department of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection issued a circular, urging publicity departments at various levels under the CCDI to effectively monitor the practice of giving expensive gifts like luxurious moon cakes during the festival.

Considering that various types of malpractices involving public funds - for example, officials using public money to buy gifts during festivals and national holidays - continued in the past despite the authorities' severe warnings, a series of alerts issued by the top Party discipline watchdog and its renewed crackdown on such illegal activities are welcome.