Ex-chief of China asset management firm prosecuted for graft by Staff Writers Beijing (AFP) Oct 15, 2018 The former chairman of a Chinese state-controlled asset management firm will be prosecuted for corruption, authorities said Monday, the latest senior figure to be felled in the government's anti-corruption dragnet. Lai Xiaomin, chairman of the Hong Kong-listed China Huarong Asset Management Co., will face prosecution for "serious violations of the law", the National Supervisory Commission and the Communist Party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a joint statement. "Lai Xiaomin violated political discipline and political rules... squandered state property (and) violated party ethics by attending banquets in private clubs and high end restaurants; arranging or accepting subordinates using public funds to pay for relatives' travels," the statement said. It listed a litany of offences Lai was said to have committed, including receiving bribes in cash or kind, as well as sex for favours. He will also be expelled from the Communist Party. He was put under investigation in April, news which sent China Huarong shares tumbling 11 percent. China Huarong is the country's biggest bad debt manager and Lai is one of the most high-profile figures to be probed by the NSC, a new super anti-graft agency set up in March. It holds sweeping powers to investigate public servants, with few requirements for transparency. The commission works alongside the Communist Party's CCDI, which has punished more than one million officials since 2012, when Xi took office. Critics say the anti-graft campaign has also served as a way for Xi to get rid of political enemies. Former Interpol president Meng Hongwei, also a vice public security minister, was the latest to fall -- he disappeared while on a trip back to China from France and authorities revealed last week that he faced a bribery investigation. Several high-profile Chinese citizens have disappeared, including billionaire business magnates. Film star Fan Bingbing went missing for months until state media reported earlier this month that she was ordered to pay more than $129 million in taxes and fines, and she posted a public apology. el/lth/rma
Thousands protest proposed artificial islands for Hong Kong housing Hong Kong (AFP) Oct 14, 2018 Thousands took to the streets in Hong Kong Sunday to protest a government plan to build new housing on artificial islands, claiming the "white elephant" project will damage the environment and line the pockets of developers. The government's proposal to reclaim 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) of land around Hong Kong's largest outlying island, Lantau, has been touted as a solution to the pressing housing shortage in the city - notorious for being one of the least affordable markets on the planet. ... read more
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |