Fareastdriver,
Lovely story!
Call it "Backsheesh", "Dash", "Bung", "Backhander", "Bribery" - it always worked, and always will. "The dinners that COHC had treated the staff of Shenzhen ATC paid off" says it all (and read regle (RIP) page 35, #692).
Apart from the "sea-green incorruptibles" of the West; over the rest of the World this is perfectly normal behaviour (indeed it is expected). We have to live with it.
Danny.