BEIJING, July 28 -- More than 10.6 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) in public funds was misused in Guangdong last year, according to a report by the province's top audit office Tuesday.

    The figure was reported to be the lowest since 2001.

    The report covered 32 projects involving 4,040 government departments and institutions using public funds.

    In his annual report to the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, Zeng Shouxi, the province's top auditor, said the economic growth and financial income in Guangdong were favorable, but there were still problems.

    Fifteen departments under the provincial government budgeted an expenditure of 8.507 billion yuan for 2004, 1.1 billion yuan more than their actual expenditure.

    Auditors also found 66 public schools in the province arbitrarily collected 753 million yuan from 2002 to 2004.Enditem

(Source: Shenzhen Daily)