Elite Chinese Politics and Political Economy

Wang Rong to Serve as Shenzhen Mayor

As a colleague alerted me, Xu's replacement will be current party secretary of Suzhou and purported Li Yuanchao protege Wang Rong. He was a professor for a long time! We'll see how this academic performs!


许宗衡因严重违纪被免职务
苏州市委书记王荣 今将接任深圳市长

(2009-06-12)
早报导读
世卫：流感警戒 升至最高第六级
世卫昨天决定把流感警戒级别提升至最高的第六级。这意味着甲型H1N1流感已在全球大流行。[甲型流感]
反对电脑预装过滤软件 网民:政府把民众当儿童
如何认知美国的“反华势力”
中日高层经济对话与中美日三边关系
● 杨永欣 广州特派员

　　苏州市委书记王荣将接任深圳市长一职，深圳今早将召开干部大会作出宣布。按照程序，王荣会先担任代市长，待人大通过后正式成为市长。

　　本报消息来源指出，王荣从苏州空降到深圳，显示深圳官场在原市长许宗衡下台引发的政治地震后，将还有会另一波更大的变动。目前，深圳市局级以上官员的港澳通行证都已被没收，防止他们离开大陆。

　　新华社昨天报道，中央组织部有关负责人证实，原深圳市长许宗衡因严重违纪，中央已经决定免去其领导职务，现正在按程序办理。

　　现年51岁的王荣在出任苏州市委书记前，曾是无锡市委书记、江苏省教育厅厅长、以及江苏省农业科学院院长。

稳定深圳官员军心

　　王荣正式上任后，相信将能稳定深圳官员的“军心”。据了解，自许宗衡和深圳副市长闫小培相继出事后，深圳官员的士气和情绪就相当低迷，广东省政府近日非常关注此情况，昨早又召开了一次“稳定军心”的高层会议。广东省委书记汪洋几天前才在深圳高层会议上提醒深圳官员在加强自律的同时，也要对人心浮动的一众官员加以安抚。

　　除了许宗衡和闫小培外，近期出事的广东高官也还包括原广东省政协主席陈绍基、中共广东省原纪委书记王华元等。

　　学而优则仕的王荣从江苏省委常委、苏州市委书记到深圳市长虽然同属副部级，但消息人士分析，他将更上一层楼，很可能再接替今年60岁的深圳市委书记刘玉浦。深圳市委书记属于副省委书记一级。

　　过去几任苏州市委书记，调离苏州即升任省长、省委副书记。梁保华担任苏州市委书记后，任江苏省委书记；陈德铭离开苏州后到陕西担任副省长后再任省委副书记、王珉则到吉林省担任省委副书记、省长。

　　王荣接任深圳市长后料也将能促进新加坡企业在深圳的投资和合作项目。王荣最近刚参加苏州工业园区15周年的庆典。他也曾访问过新加坡，与新加坡官员多有过接触，对新加坡相当熟悉，由他领导深圳，相信也符合汪洋一直提倡的“叫板新加坡”理念。

王荣简历

　　王荣（左）在1958年出生于江苏省滨海县，1975年高中毕业后在该县农村插队劳动，1976年加入中国共产党。1978年考入江苏农学院，就读于农业经济系农业经济管理专业；1979年转入恢复的南京农学院，自此连续攻读学士、硕士、博士学位，1988年在南京农业大学毕业。1991年获国家公派留学资助，以高级访问学者身份赴荷兰Tilburg大学进修并合作研究。先后担任江苏省农林厅副厅长、江苏省教育厅厅长、无锡市市长及市委书记。自2004 年以来，他担任苏州市委书记。他也是江苏省委常委。

More on the disgraced mayor of Shenzhen

First of all, kudos to the Hong Kong press for doing such a good job covering the downfall of the mayor of its northern neighbor. I wish the Western press would cover this story more extensively.

In a way, this is an important story because Shenzhen is supposedly at the forefront of economic and political reform in China. Yet, here we see some of the worst corruption in this thriving metropolis. Beyond the usual millions in bribes, mistresses, and free apartments, Xu also engaged in extensive buying and selling of offices, pretty much the worst kind of corruption one can have in an authoritarian regime. In such a regime, the leaders hold on to power by having the power to appoint and dismiss officials, but if this organizational discipline is being subverted by office selling, it can lead to major compliance issues when central-local interests clash. If it turns out that Xu sold offices, then the "buyers" will also get into trouble, and they may number into the dozens. Thus, a major shakeup may be on the horizon for Shenzhen.

I originally suspected that Zhou Yongkang pursued the GOME case to clean house in the judicial system, but now I am not sure. There are signs that Wang Yang, the party secretary of Guangdong, had a hand in Xu's downfall as Xu was a cadre with extensive Shenzhen connections cultivated by former party secreary Huang Liman-- a Jiang Zemin protege. It is certainly in Wang Yang's interest to remove Xu and install Xu Qin, his protege from his days at the NDRC. If readers know something I don't know, please let us all know!


Mayor paid his way to top, sources say More details of shady deals in Shenzhen
Staff Reporters
540 words
10 June 2009
South China Morning Post
5
English
(c) 2009 South China Morning Post Publishers Limited, Hong Kong. All rights reserved.

Disgraced Shenzhen mayor Xu Zongheng had spent millions of yuan trying to buy his way to the top position in the city and had angered many parties with his

arrogant behaviour, sources said.

Mr Xu, who was detained on Friday and taken away from Shenzhen, was accused of scheming to get Shenzhen party boss Liu Yupu's position once Mr Liu stepped down.

Sources said Mr Xu, Shenzhen's first locally promoted mayor, was so keen on advancement he offered bribes to boost his chances of promotion.

One source said Mr Xu got his position as mayor mainly by buying support from different camps.

He grew excited early this year over rumours that Mr Liu, who turns 60 in August, would soon step down and be transferred out of Shenzhen. Mr Liu was later tipped to take over from Chen Shaoji , arrested for alleged corruption, as Guangdong's top political adviser.

Sensing his chance had finally arrived, Mr Xu started an aggressive lobbying campaign to win more support, government sources said.

Once known for his low-key, hard-working image, he had courted media attention in recent months. He appeared on a CCTV talk show in Beijing during the annual National People's Congress session in March, when he boasted of his achievements in Shenzhen. A source said an actress friend of Mr Xu's had arranged for him to join the popular programme.

Government sources said Mr Xu spent most of his time in Beijing during the NPC session building relationships and seeking support. "He has no direct links or powerful patrons in the higher echelons, so he tried to buy his way up," a source said.

The tactic backfired as a number of people he approached later reported him. Mr Xu, who became mayor of Shenzhen in 2005, had also angered powerful parties by being arrogant.

A source from a ministry-level central government organisation in Hong Kong said that in 2006 Mr Xu swapped a reserved land parcel near the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor on which the organisation was going to build an office for a strip in a remote suburban area. He then sold the reserved land to a developer. The source said leaders of the organisation were deeply offended.

Shi Dongbing, a dissident writer who claimed he was jailed after being framed by Mr Xu, recently detailed on his blog the corruption allegations surrounding Mr Xu. "Xu has climbed up the power ladder really fast. He has gathered a bunch of henchmen around him and these people have helped him to collect bribes and build connections. His sister-in-law in particular is the one who represents him in these shady dealings."

A bank source said yesterday that senior bank managers had been summoned to a meeting before Mr Xu's arrest by anti-corruption authorities. They were asked to freeze bank accounts linked to Mr Xu as the authorities worried he might try to escape overseas.

A government source also said Mr Xu had an escape plan in case he was exposed. But he was taken down before he could make any move.


Business links of Shenzhen mayor face probe
Bonnie Chen
326 words
10 June 2009
The Standard
English
Copyright 2009 The Standard Newspapers Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Many current and former Shenzhen officials and businessmen are expected to be grilled over their ties to detained Shenzhen mayor Xu Zhongheng.

According to mainland writer Shi Dongbing, writing before the arrest on Friday, Xu has admitted investing a lot to become mayor and many entrepreneurs have ``invested in me.''

His political career was described as a ``rarity'' by mainland media, having left Hunan for Shenzhen in 1993, and been assigned to party affairs before switching to administration, then becoming mayor.

While working for party affairs, Xu trained many officials, although it is alleged several of his relatives have also been appointed to top positions in the Shenzhen municipal government. Shi said Xu's brother-in-law works at the Shenzhen border and his son-in-law is a tax official in Luohu.

Xu's wife is alleged to have received bribes from a property developer, and there have been questions raised over his son's overseas studies.

Guangdong party secretary Wang Yang went to Shenzhen to pacify officials who are not allowed to leave the area because of the Xu investigation.

At least four vice mayors are expected to be questioned _ Lu Ruifeng (property), Chen Yingchun (finance), Yan Xiaopei (culture) and Tang Jie (finance).

The central government began its probe in the middle of last year.

One claim that could not be verified is that Xu attempted to commit suicide on Sunday.

Xu was linked to disgraced Gome chief Wong Kwong-yu. Questions have also been raised over the Taoyuanju property project, and the building of a stadium for the World University Games _ which will take place in 2011 _ as well as some railway projects.

One of Xu's vice mayors, Xu Qin, has been appointed acting mayor and an official announcement is expected soon.

The central discipline committee has confirmed one more official has been arrested in connection with the Gome case.

Source : The Standard.

Zhou Yongkang is Healthy

Well, a recent appearance by Zhou Yongkang exploded the rumor I posted earlier on. He looks quite healthy! Tsk Tsk to rumor mongerers like myself!

周永康与公安边防部队群众工作先进代表座谈强调
周永康：加强新时期群众工作　维护边疆和谐稳定


2009年06月09日05:27 来源：人民网-《人民日报》
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6月8日，公安边防部队群众工作报告会在北京举行。中共中央政治局常委、中央政法委书记周永康会见参加报告会的先进集体、先进个人并与代表座谈。新华社记者王建民摄


　　本报北京６月８日电 （记者石国胜）公安边防部队群众工作报告会８日在北京举行。中共中央政治局常委、中央政法委书记周永康会见参加报告会的先进集体、先进个人并与代表座谈。周永康强调，公安边防部队要大力开展爱民活动，主动服务群众、紧紧依靠群众，全力维护国家安全和边疆社会稳定，促进边疆经济社会发展，保障人民安居乐业。

　　在认真听取新疆科克牙尔边防派出所民警吾斯曼江、浙江罗家岙边防派出所民警周斌、广西凭祥市礼茶村党支部书记凌振森的发言后，周永康代表党中央、国务院和中央政法委向受到表彰的先进集体、先进个人表示热烈祝贺，向全国公安边防官兵致以亲切问候。他指出，公安边防部队作为党和国家部署在沿边沿海地区的一支重要武装执法力量，承担着边防管理、边防检查、海上治安及渔船民管理、边防涉外合作等繁重任务，肩负着维护边疆稳定、保卫国家安全的神圣使命。近年来，按照公安部党委开展“三基工程”建设、“三项建设”的部署，公安边防部队大力实施爱民固边战略，积极探索新时期群众工作新路子，做了大量暖民心、顺民心、得民心的工作，帮助群众解决了大量实际问题。广大官兵在爱民实践中经受了锻炼，提高了素质，增长了才干，对构建和谐警民关系、夯实边海防基层基础、维护边疆安全稳定、促进边疆经济社会发展作出了突出贡献。

　　周永康强调，我国边疆地区多数属于少数民族地区、经济欠发达地区，公安边防部队要牢记根本宗旨，坚持立警为公、执法为民，大力开展爱民活动，不断创新群众工作的方式方法，永做人民群众的贴心人。一要时刻心系各族群众。把人民放在心中最高的位置，始终怀着真挚感情，把各族群众当亲人、当朋友、当老师，带着真情去倾听群众呼声、体察群众疾苦，千方百计为群众排忧解难。二要全心全意服务各族群众。深入最边远、最困难的村寨，了解他们的困难和关切，不断完善便民利民措施，提高服务水平；及时处置各类警情，防范化解矛盾纠纷，不断增强群众安全感；坚持严格公正文明廉洁执法，维护群众合法权益，维护社会公平正义。三要紧紧依靠各族群众。组织发动各族群众参与边防保卫工作，形成专群结合、警民联防的防控网络，不断巩固公安边防工作的群众基础。

　　周永康要求，公安边防部队要认真履行职责，全力维护国家安全和沿边沿海地区社会稳定，特别是要严密防范、严厉打击分裂势力、恐怖势力、极端势力的捣乱破坏活动，严密防范、严厉打击跨境走私制贩毒品、拐卖人口等违法犯罪活动，加强边境管理和执法合作，维护边境秩序，确保边疆社会大局稳定，为边疆经济社会发展创造良好治安环境。

　　周永康强调，公安边防工作点多线长面广，官兵流动性大，必须把队伍建设放在重中之重的位置，特别要进一步加强基层基础建设，严格教育、严格管理、严格监督，确保广大官兵思想政治过硬、执法业务过硬、纪律作风过硬，做到在任何条件任何环境下不变质、打得赢。同时，各级党委、政府和公安机关要关心广大官兵的工作生活和家庭，搞好后勤保障，为部队履行职责创造良好条件。希望广大公安边防官兵在保卫边疆、服务人民方面不断取得新进步，以优异成绩迎接新中国成立６０周年。

　　座谈会后，公安部举行了“春暖边关——公安边防部队群众工作报告会”。

　　国务委员兼公安部部长孟建柱参加会见、座谈并出席了报告会。

A big domino falls: the Shenzhen mayor

Reuters reports that Xu Zongheng, the mayor of Shenzhen, was just arrested for corruption related to the Huang Guangyu case, which has already afflicted several officials.The Chinese press suggests it was for another reason. Regardless, this is a high profile case as Shenzhen has quasi-provincial status. The top leaders of Shenzhen are directly appointed by the central government. Note that Xu engaged in "organizational" work for years in Shenzhen, which means that he had a hand in promoting hundreds of cadres over the years. If he engaged in the buying and selling of offices, this could lead to a wholesale clean up of the Shenzhen government. This may ultimately be Hu Jintao flexing his muscles through Guangdong party secretary Wang Yang, who is now expected to impose stricter control over Shenzhen.

By the way, the People's Daily just confirmed this news:

http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/14562/9431537.html

From the Straits Times

(http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_386806.html).

June 6, 2009
Chinese mayor in graft probe

HONG KONG - THE mayor of China's southern boomtown of Shenzhen is being investigated in a growing graft probe linked to the billionaire head of the GOME electronics retail chain, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Xu Zongheng had been put under shuanggui - a form of detention imposed on party officials, given his alleged links to Huang Guangyu, the founder of GOME and once ranked China's richest man, the South China Morning Post reported citing several unnamed sources.

'It must have something to do with economic irregularities... but it could also have something to do with a power struggle,' a government source was quoted as saying by the Post.

Corruption investigations in China can be proxies for political struggles.

Xu would be the latest in a number of senior officials to be implicated in Huang's graft investigation, triggered last year by alleged financial misconduct.

The chief of the disciplinary body in eastern Zhejiang province, Wang Huayuan, and the former head of police in Guangdong province, Chen Shaoji, were both detained for investigation in relation to Huang's case. -- REUTERS

许宗衡
[编辑本段]
1.中共广东省深圳市委副书记、市长
　　男，汉族，1955年7月生，湖南湘潭人，1973年11月加入中国共产党， 1972年3月参加工作，中国政法大学民商法专业毕业，在职研究生学历，双硕士学位（中国政法大学民商法专业硕士学位，美国国际东西方大学工商管理硕士学位）。
　　
学习简历

　　
　　1972年03月－1974年08月，湖南省衡南县宝盖农场知青，任场长、副指导员；
　　1974年08月—1976年08月，湖南省交通学校汽车专业学生，担任班长、校学生会主席；
　　1984年06月－1986年09月，湘潭大学中文系汉语言文学专业学生；
　　1994年02月－1996年01月，在中国政法大学研究生院民商法专业研究生班学习；
　　1997年08月－1999年08月，在美国国际东西方大学工商管理硕士研究生班学习；
　　
任职简历

　　
　　1976年08月—1977年09月，湖南省衡阳汽车修配厂技术员、政治处干部；
　　1977年09月—1978年12月，湖南省衡阳市经委组干科干部；
　　1978年12月—1986年08月，湖南省衡阳市委组织部干部科干事、副科长、科长；
　　1986年08月—1990年04月，湖南省衡阳市委组织部副部长；
　　1990年04月—1993年01月，湖南省衡阳市委常委（副厅）、组织部部长；
　　1993年01月—1994年07月，深圳市委组织部干部培训处处长；
　　1994年07月—1996年08月，深圳海天出版社党委书记、社长、总编辑（副局级）；
　　1996年08月—2000年01月，深圳市委党校常务副校长，市行政学院、市社会主义学院、市经济管理学院常务副院长（正局级）；
　　2000年01月—2000年05月，深圳市委组织部副部长（正局级）；
　　2000年05月—2000年06月，深圳市委常委；
　　2000年06月—2000年08月，深圳市委常委、市委组织部部长；
　　2000年08月—2001年06月，深圳市委常委、市委组织部部长、市党建研究会会长；
　　2001年06月—2002年09月，深圳市委常委、市委组织部部长、市党建研究会会长、省党建研究会会长；
　　2002年09月—2003年08月，深圳市委常委、市委组织部部长、市党建研究会会长、省党建研究会会长、市人才研究协会会长；
　　2003年08月—2005年06月，深圳市委常委，常务副市长、党组副书记；
　　2005年06月— 深圳市委副书记，市长，市政府党组书记。
　　第十一届全国人大代表，
　　十届省委委员
　　许宗衡出生在铁路工人家庭。经历了“知识青年下乡”运动。17岁那年，他到离衡阳120公里的宝盖乡农场锻炼。在这两年内，因其干活卖力，先被推荐入党，后被保送至湖南省交通学校上学。在湖南省交通学校念书时，许宗衡担任过班长、学生会主席。一年后，他被抽调到衡阳市经委组干科工作。记者虽然无法寻访到其在汽配厂的表现，但据经委组干科的工作人员介绍，当年的老法院宋院长调到汽修厂任革委会主任。宋主任很快在这个新分来的中专生身上发现了潜力。之后经其推荐，许宗衡被抽调到经委“工业学大庆办公室”接受锻炼。据经委的徐荣主任回忆，那时候常跟他一同背着网挎包，骑着单车，日2005年6月2日当选为深圳市市长以后，许宗衡坦言：“面对未来的巨大挑战和压力，我没有丝毫的彷徨和犹豫；面对未来的工作和使命，我充满了信心和决心！”
　　在文化产业方面，深圳具有市场、科技、创新三大优势，许宗衡希望有更多的支柱产业，使深圳的产业基础更加稳定和牢固。在公共关系方面，许宗衡表示：加强与市民群众之间的沟通就是促进政府转型、构建现代政府的一项重要工作。在人口管理方面，推出 “1＋5”文件。许宗衡更加强调的是要把发展成果转化为市民的实惠。在交通整治方面，要从“硬”、“软”两方面着手。社会治安方面，坚持抓源头、抓队伍、抓严打。许宗衡要把今后每年一届的“中国(深圳)国际文化产业博览交易会”办成广交会那样具有知名度和经济效益，“应该说从全国各城市来看，深圳不是最具有文化优势的，那么为什么深圳要去极力发展它呢？这里最关键的是文化优势如何转换成产业，而在这个地方深圳恰恰具有得天独厚的优势。文化要转换成产业要有三个条件：第一要有市场，第二要有科技的结合，第三文化必须要以创新相结合。而深圳恰好是高科技非常好、市场体系非常完善、创新充满活力。深圳通过25年的努力，已经形成三大支柱产业：高新技术、现代物流和金融业。我们希望有更多的支柱产业，使深圳的产业基础更加稳定和牢固。”

Zhou Yongkang DID make an appearance last month

As reader dylan pointed out, Zhou Yongkang did make a public appearance in mid May at a reward ceremony for "comprehensive management for social stability," one of his key portfolios. The strange thing is that this appearance was not put on his profile at the People's Daily website or the Xinhua website, which show his last appearance in early May. I include the links below for readers to verify. Was it just a mistake? Regardless, his level of activities in the past month was quite slow relatively to his previous activities and relative to other Standing Committee members. I guess only time will tell whether May was only an anomaly or the beginning of a new pattern.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/leaders/zhouyongkang/index.htm

http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64192/106178/index.html



全国社会治安综合治理表彰大会在京举行 胡锦涛温家宝习近平周永康会见全体代表

http://www.sznews.com (05-18 23:37) 深圳新闻网 【字号：大 中 小】



5月18日，全国社会治安综合治理表彰大会在北京人民大会堂举行。会前，党和国家领导人胡锦涛、温家宝、习近平、周永康会见全体与会代表。新华社记者饶爱民摄

全国社会治安综合治理表彰大会在京举行

胡锦涛温家宝习近平周永康会见全体代表 周永康出席大会并讲话　

新华网北京５月１８日电（记者李斌）全国社会治安综合治理表彰大会１８日上午在人民大会堂举行。会前，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席胡锦涛，中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理温家宝，中共中央政治局常委、中央书记处书记、国家副主席习近平，中共中央政治局常委、中央政法委书记、中央社会治安综合治理委员会主任周永康亲切会见了全体与会代表。

周永康出席表彰大会并讲话。他首先代表党中央、国务院和中央社会治安综合治理委员会，向受到表彰的２００５至２００８年度全国社会治安综合治理先进集体、先进工作者表示热烈祝贺，向长期战斗在社会治安综合治理第一线的全体同志表示崇高敬意，向积极参与、支持社会治安综合治理工作的社会各界和广大人民群众表示衷心感谢。周永康说，２００５年以来，在党中央、国务院的坚强领导下，各地区、各部门以平安建设为载体，以完善社会治安综合治理工作机制为着力点，全面推进社会治安综合治理工作。四年来，各地区、各部门对社会治安综合治理工作的领导力度明显加大，预防化解矛盾纠纷的主动性明显增强，驾驭社会治安局势的能力明显提高，社会管理和服务工作明显改进，社会治安综合治理基层基础建设明显加强，人民群众安全感逐年上升，实现了社会大局持续稳定，促进了经济社会又好又快发展。

周永康指出，在新形势下，人民群众期盼更平安的社会环境，维护社会和谐稳定的任务艰巨繁重。各地区、各部门要以邓小平理论和“三个代表”重要思想为指导，深入贯彻落实科学发展观，主动适应新形势新任务提出的新要求新挑战，积极推动社会治安综合治理的理念思路、体制机制、方法手段创新，完善和发展社会治安综合治理工作体系，确保人民群众安居乐业，确保社会和谐稳定。

Zhou Yongkang Sick??

The opposition press is spreading a rumor that China's top cop Zhou Yongkang is afflicted with cancer. I checked the official press and found indeed that Zhou has not made a public appearance since May 4th. At the same time, all of the other Standing Committee members have made public appearances since May 4th. We can't be sure that he has cancer, but his disappearance certainly suggests that he either is sick or is under investigation. Either would be extremely interesting for the power balance. Hu Jintao can certainly use this as a way to drastically change the power balance in his own favor. The problem is that I can't really think of anyone loyal to Hu who would be equipped to take on such an important position. Anyway, I will continue to monitor this situation.