The hongbao-grabbing game is indeed addictive and the amount transferred too small to arouse anti-corruption officials' suspicion. And compared with the risk of accepting expensive gifts or a large sum of money at one go, the idea of regularly getting small amounts, which could become huge in no time, could make officials let their guard down.

Also, a cell phone not registered under a real name along with another person's credit card can easily escape the authorities' oversight. And given the huge numbers of digital hongbao sent everyday, it is not possible to keep a close watch on every transaction. Besides, even if there are doubts about a specific account, it will be difficult to secure evidence to prove a particular red envelope is a bribe.

But imposing a total ban on WeChat hongbao is not the answer to the problem, because one cannot give up eating for fear of choking. But countermeasures should be taken to prevent the convenient Internet service from being abused as a tool for bribery - for instance, officials should ensure that all SIM cards are registered under real names.

Moreover, officials should be vigilant; they should inform their seniors or anti-corruption officials if they get digital red envelopes from people they know little about because they could be the first step toward corruption.

With the country's leadership reiterating its zero-tolerance policy on "tigers" and "flies" (senior and low-level corrupt officials), the small hongbao can be seen as "micro-level corruption" involving "ants".

Like the Chinese saying - a small ant-made hole could lead to the collapse of a thousand-mile-long dike - small digital red envelopes can become gargantuan in size and crush officials' willpower and honesty.

The author is an editor with China Daily. [email protected]