According to the Communist Party criteria, Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung is a "naked official" and should be removed from his post, as his son and two daughters study and live in Britain. Photo: Oriental Daily
CY Leung and Carrie Lam are ‘naked officials’?
China’s “naked officials” are feeling the heat from the Communist Party’s stepped-up campaign against corruption as investigators target cadres whose spouses and children live abroad.
The suspicion is that these officials engage in corrupt activities, otherwise their spouses and children cannot afford to live overseas. The spouses and children are also suspected of acting as conduits for the transfer of ill-gotten wealth.
Last week, Guangdong revealed there are 2,190 “naked officials” in the southern province, particularly in Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Foshan, Jiangmen and other cities in the Pearl River Delta.
“Naked officials” in senior positions — over 1,000 in the province — will have to ask their spouses and children to come home or they will be transferred to much junior positions.
What’s surprising, though, is that almost 80 percent of such bureaucrats would rather be demoted than ask their wives and kids to come back, Guangzhou-based Yangcheng Evening News reports.
If that is indeed the case, about 800 of these senior officials will be demoted, although some may opt for early retirement or just quit.
Some of the affected officials are saying that the government’s move is harsh and unfair, noting that their counterparts in Hong Kong can still hold on to their senior government positions.
All the children of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying are studying in Britain. Chief Secretary Carrie Lam’s husband and sons also live there. The son and daughter of Financial Secretary John Tsang are green card holders in the United States.
But as far as we can tell, the three Hong Kong officials are not members of the Communist Party of China. Nasty rumors claim CY Leung is a party member, although he has denied this.
– Contact the writer at frankchen@hkej.com
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