China's supervisory bodies have received more than 100,000 complaints about the performance of government departments this year, according to the latest official statistics.

The Ministry of Supervision has helped solve 38,000 cases involving power abuse, low efficiency or nonstandard administrative practices.

More than 11,000 people were punished in 21,000 efficiency-related cases in the public sector this year, according to the ministry.

Beijing alone investigated and dealt with more than 290 such complaints this year, with more than 270 cases solved.

In north China's Hebei Province, supervision departments called off 1,300 unlicensed projects.

The traffic police branch in Meishan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, was ordered to pay back 4 million yuan (US$500,000) it had collected illegally by setting up checkpoints along the roads without official authorization.

(Xinhua News Agency December 28, 2006)