2010-06-09 14:44

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Finance has frozen its 300-yuan ($44) maximum hotel room allowance for government officials on business trips to provincial capitals for a further two years.

The cap would be lower for prefecture-level cities, said a statement posted on the ministry website Wednesday, without giving details.

The statement said three-star hotels would be the top accommodation for government officials. The standard rate for single and twin rooms should be no more than 300 yuan a night, while the maximum for guest rooms would be restricted to 600 yuan in provincial capitals.

The statement also said the price cap could be raised by 50 percent in peak seasons. The regulation also allows some four or five-star hotels during the low season if they meet government price limits.

The price caps, introduced in 2007, are unchanged from the standards set for 2009 and 2010. The new standards are for 2011 and 2012.