It was reported that out of the 18.5 million yuan ($2.90 million) investment to shoot a promotional video for the Ministry of Railways, about 7 million yuan slated for video production was allegedly used to pay illegal kickbacks. The reports underline the lack of supervision over public money and the craze among local governments to produce promotional videos, says an article in the People’s Daily. Excerpts:

In recent years, the promotional video marketing model was introduced by many local governments and departments and represented a gesture of active publicity.

A good video can help build a positive image and raise the regions' recognition and reputation.

However, amid the craze emerged some phenomena worth keeping an eye on. When a fine video can be produced at a relatively low budget, some officials prefer to invest more than the necessary money to invite well-known directors and actors, and even pad the expense accounts.

An effective and powerful supervision mechanism of the budgets and final accounts is needed to guarantee that public money is invested wisely. Otherwise, not only money is wasted, but violations of laws and regulations will happen with the excuse of promoting the local governments' image.

Only by establishing a sound and strict supervision mechanism, as well as the mentality that the best image promotion is the officials' performance, can such unhealthy impulses stop.