BEIJING - A total of 170 Chinese officials were punished over the past year for violating regulations on the use of public funds for government vehicles, new figures have demonstrated.

Since the launch of a national campaign to cut public spending on government cars last year, the number of cars owned by central Party and government departments has reduced by 35 percent, according to a document issued at a national conference on Thursday on the disposal of such cars.

A total of 949 investigations in the campaign were launched following public or media reports, the document said, and 199,600 vehicles nationwide were found to be purchased or used against regulations.

Government spending on official vehicles as well as spending on overseas trips and official receptions are commonly seen by the public as three major sources of corruption and waste in China.