Civil servants in Hunan province are being required to abide by a new regulation restricting the extravagance of various ceremonies, including weddings and funerals, People's Daily reported on Monday.

Under the regulation, which was published by the provincial disciplinary authority on Sept 17 and will take effect on Nov 1, civil servants may not invite more than 300 people to a wedding and the scale of funerals should also be strictly limited.

Only civil servants' relatives are allowed to take part in celebrations and other happy events, the regulation said.

Civil servants should hand in a report to the local disciplinary authority 10 days before celebrations are to take place, explaining how many people they will invite, the report said.

Those who break the rules will be subject to criticism and disciplinary punishment. The authority will also confiscate any cash gifts or luxurious items that they have been given, the report said.

The authority said the regulation aims to discourage extravagance and the receipt of bribes during celebrations, the report added.