Participants of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's biggest political gathering, have not been given free bottled water or any single-use personal items, as the government holds true to its drive against luxurious spending.

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Instead, China's top politicians and even the country's wealthy businessmen in attendance in Beijing were given free tap and hot water at the meeting's venue, a huge twist to the pampering that was evident in past meetings.

The exclusion of bottled water and other single-use personal items, such as combs and toothbrushes, in the provisions provided to the members of the CPPCC was part of the government's efforts to cut expenses and avoid wasting government money.

CPPCC members and other meeting participants were also told to conserve food that will be served during the meeting.

On Wednesday, members of the CPPCC have started to arrive in Beijing, just before their meeting starts in China's capital. An inspection team has been formed by CPPCC's general office to supervise the event.

The public are prohibited from entering the session sites.

For the first time, every CPPCC member is given a chance to electronically communicate with fellow members by downloading a messaging app. One will only have to go through an identity verification to start sending messages to those who are inside the meeting venue.

On the sidelines, over 200 of China's richest individuals are lining up to participate in the conference, which is the country's annual biggest political event. a proof of the close ties between China's politics and business.

Media networks estimate that over 200 wealthy Chinese are taking part in the meeting, up from 155 last year.

Li Hejun leads the 36 billionaires who are showing up in Beijing this year. Li has just been tagged as the country's richest man by Shanghai-based wealth tracker, Hurun.

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