The Chinese “October 1” long holiday is notoriously known as the golden time where Chinese officials flee abroad. Just recently, two officials were reported disappearing on their trips to France.
According to a report from China’s official media on October 22, Xin Weiming, Deputy Head of Luwan District of Shanghai, disappeared during a business trip to Paris. He did not show up for the hotel breakfast. The delegation members later realized his luggage was gone, and found a note in his hotel room stating he left to meet a friend in France. Xin never showed up for the return flight back to China.
Before his disappearance, Xin Weiming participated in the 2008 National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), submitting a proposal entitled, “Fine Tune Fertility Policy in China Cities” in March. He suggested permitting any one-child couples to have a second child in low birth rate cities such as Beijing and Shanghai.
Shanghai officials and Xin’s acquaintances have all been shocked by Xin’s sudden disappearance. He has not been found involved in corruption or misdeeds. Although there have been unconfirmed rumors about his life style.
An October 21 report indicated that during the October 1 holiday, Yang Xianghong, Party Member Secretary of the Lucheng District of Wenzhou City, refused to return to China during his educational trip to France. Yang blamed sickness.
Wenzhou City officials held an emergency meeting among the NPC Standing Committee, and decided to send forth a cadre to visit Yang about his illness.
Yang’s incident set off a passport retrieval movement. All governmental officials in Wenzhou City are requested to turn in their passports, and none are permitted to leave the country.
It is said that three days prior to Yang’s departure, he was called in for a meeting with the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission staff. After the October 1 holiday, Yang delayed his return with the excuse of illness during his trip to France.
Yang Xianghong was born in 1956. In July of 2004, he was appointed member of the Standing Committee Secretary, and Vice Minister of the Organization Department of the Lucheng District of Wenzhou City. In March of 2007, he was elected in the Standing Committee of the Wenzhou Municipal Committee.
Incomplete statistics have indicated that in the past several years, as many as several thousand Chinese officials have fled abroad, with an estimated amount of several hundred billion dollars.
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