Mayor of Shenzhen investigated over corruption

Published on June 8, 2009 by connie | This story has been viewed 1,103 views

Mayor of Shenzhen Xu Zongheng, is being investigated for serious disciplinary offences and now has been under detention and interrogation by Central Commission for Discipline Investigation. According to the report, Xu Zongheng was suspected of economic issues and his wife was also taken for investigation. Senior officers of Shenzhen Municipal Government have been informed of this issue.

Xu attended the signing ceremony of Sike Company on 4th, interviewed guests in the afternoon and host the executive meeting of the municipal government. But in the morning of 5th, he and his wife were taken away by disciplinary investigators. He was expected to attend an open occasion, but was absent without any explanation.

Xu, 54 years old, was from Xiangtan Hunan. He was transferred to Shenzhen in 1993 for training in Organization Department of Shenzhen Municipal Committee of Communist Party of Committee and Party School. In 2003, he was elected Executive vice-Mayor and succeeded to the mayoralty of Shenzhen after Li Hongzhong in 2005.

There are two rumors about Xu’s detention. One is that Shenzhen land agents contact Xu through his wife and then he was investigated of profit exchange and economic crime committing. The other one is due to political struggle.

Shenzhen has three advantages of markets, technology and innovation. After Xu taking office, he made many efforts in culture industry with expectation that the annual China (Shenzhen) International Culture Industry Expo can have the same fame popularity and economic profit as China Export Commodities Fair (Guangzhou Fair). On public relation, he also strengthened switching of the government. Xu was also an infuser for merging Shenzhen with Hong Kong, who used to put forward “Learn from Hong Kong and serve for Hong Kong” for promoting the financial cooperation between the two areas.

Although the detention and investigation are not verified by the government, Hong Kong’s Xinhua News Agency which has sort of authority color has reported this issue and the report quoted a sentence of a commentator on current events, “Xu’s issue will not impact the cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong”.

Recently, the great quakes are frequently occurred in the official circle of Guangdong. In April, Chairman of Political Consultative Conference of Guangdong Province, Chen Shaoji was wrapped in the economic crime involving the Gome case and the Shenzhen Mayor Xu Zongheng was dismounted, which certainly will stirred up an officialdom storm.

In March this year, Premier Wen emphasized on the Honest and Clean Conference of State Council that Construction of a clean and honest administration should be strengthened for providing powerful guarantee for the economic development. He explicitly pointed out that investigating and dealing with cases was the important, direct and effective measure.

Shenzhen Post staff Connie contributes to the story.
visitchn@gmail.com

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