Mongolian Bureaucracy's Specific Rule on the Use of Red Ink

In Mongolia, there is a local lore about a bureaucratic rule with unexpectedly specific wording regarding the use of red ink in official paperwork. Allegedly, government offices were required to avoid using red ink on documents unless the red ink was employed to mark a 'negative governmental decision,' such as a denial or penalty. This rule purportedly aimed to maintain clarity and prevent the emotional impact of red ink on routine paperwork. The regulation's wording reportedly specified that red ink must only appear to signify negativity and not for general documentation. While not confirmed as an official law, this odd specificity is often cited as an example of Mongolia’s meticulous and sometimes peculiar attention to bureaucratic detail. The story reflects cultural values tied to symbolism and communication, hinting at an effort to reduce confusion or alarm in governmental affairs. Documentation about this rule remains scarce, and it is best regarded as a piece of local bureaucratic folklore rather than an officially codified statute.