Nothing offends a Chinese employee more than cancelling the annual lunar new year party, a rare chance to eat, drink and win a free iPad or iPhone, courtesy of the boss.

But the austerity drive launched by the new Chinese leadership of Xi Jinping, coupled with the economic slowdown, has led government departments and state-owned enterprises to cancel or radically scale back new year festivities – the equivalent of office Christmas parties in the west, but often far more lavish. The lunar new year begins on February 10 but the party season is normally in full swing at least a fortnight before.

Some multinational companies say they are struggling to find any government officials willing to be wined and dined as they scramble to respond to the new call for frugality from Beijing, part of the leadership’s anti-corruption drive.