Executives from China's state-owned firms have increasingly been embroiled in using public funds to indulge in golf. (Photo : Acacia Octrooibureau)
Six state-owned enterprises (SOEs) were warned about their executives playing golf using public funds.
This was revealed by 25 reports of special inspection carried out by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI).
The companies include China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO), Sinochem Group and China Minmetals Cooperation.
The CCDI report indicated that several COSCO staff used public funds for traveling and playing golf. This includes the case of Lin Tiesheng, ex-general manager of COSCO's subsidiary China United Tally (Shenzhen) Co., who was caught using public funds to play golf beginning 2014.
Some senior executives of the Baosteel Group Corporation who were found golfing at public expense include its ex-vice president Zhao Kun, who was removed from office for offenses including golfing at public expense in May 2013 and April 2014.
There were other cases outside companies inspected by the CCDI.
Among the 54 cases of violation of government discipline reported by the Assets Supervision and Administration Commission were four involving golfing at public expense.
Song Lin, ex-president of China Resources, and Long Zenglai, ex-president of the China Investment Securities, were both named as having used public funds to play golf.
Golf has long been associated with government corruption in China, with Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China, having banned it and denouncing it as a millionaire's sport.
Last year, 11 government ministries made an inspection of all the golf courses in China to address the situation.
On March 30, China closed down 66 "illegal" golf courses in an apparent attempt to re-enforce a ban on golf-related construction.
