Let g be a semi-simple Lie algebra with fixed root system, and U q pgq the quantization of its universal enveloping algebra. Let S be a subset of the simple roots of g. We show that the defining relations for U q pgq can be slightly modified in such a way that the resulting algebra U q pg; Sq allows a homomorphism onto (an extension of) the algebra PolpG q {K S,q q of functions on the quantum flag manifold G q {K S,q corresponding to S. Moreover, this homomorphism is equivariant with respect to a natural adjoint action of U q pgq on U q pg; Sq and the standard action of U q pgq on PolpG q {K S,q q.