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11-02-2015, 01:40 PM
An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:
Brother of China's Premier Li Keqiang steps down as deputy head of tobacco monopoly
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's brother has stepped down as deputy head of China's powerful tobacco monopoly, state media said on Wednesday, removing a potential conflict of interest as the world's largest tobacco user battles a major health crisis.
Mr Li Keming, a vice-director at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, has "been removed" from his position, Xinhua news agency said in a brief report, listing several other officials who were also stepping down.
The tobacco monopoly wields extraordinary power because it provides an estimated 7 per cent to 10 per cent of government revenues in China - as much as 816 billion yuan (S$177 billion) in 2013.
Mr Li is the younger brother of Mr Li Keqiang, and had been in his post at the monopoly since 2003. His position had become a target for accusations from anti-smoking activists that the Chinese government was too cosy with the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, which controls 98 per cent of China's vast cigarette market.
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?200300-Brother-of-China-s-Premier-Li-Keqiang-steps-down-as-deputy-head-of-tobacco-monopoly&goto=newpost).
Brother of China's Premier Li Keqiang steps down as deputy head of tobacco monopoly
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's brother has stepped down as deputy head of China's powerful tobacco monopoly, state media said on Wednesday, removing a potential conflict of interest as the world's largest tobacco user battles a major health crisis.
Mr Li Keming, a vice-director at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, has "been removed" from his position, Xinhua news agency said in a brief report, listing several other officials who were also stepping down.
The tobacco monopoly wields extraordinary power because it provides an estimated 7 per cent to 10 per cent of government revenues in China - as much as 816 billion yuan (S$177 billion) in 2013.
Mr Li is the younger brother of Mr Li Keqiang, and had been in his post at the monopoly since 2003. His position had become a target for accusations from anti-smoking activists that the Chinese government was too cosy with the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, which controls 98 per cent of China's vast cigarette market.
Click here to view the whole thread at www.sammyboy.com (http://www.sammyboy.com/showthread.php?200300-Brother-of-China-s-Premier-Li-Keqiang-steps-down-as-deputy-head-of-tobacco-monopoly&goto=newpost).