Mainland tycoon fined HK$40m after launching 'clean government' bid for mayor

A Henan property tycoon who revealed bold plans to contend in the Zhengzhou city’s mayoral race on a “clean government” independent slate last year was handed a fine of 34 million yuan (HK$42.2 million) by the state tax administration, according to a report by Guangzhou-based 21st Century Business Herald.

Cao Tian, 43, a real estate developer, author and former 1989 political prisoner announced a high-profile bid to run for mayor of Zhengzhou in June last year, vowing to take a hard line against government corruption, stop urban management staff from abusing their power and to bring down housing prices.

Cao, said he was willing to spend 100 million yuan (HK$124 million) on the campaign as a "deposit for clean governance"  and promised to forgo a state salary if he was selected into office. He stressed that all of the money was to be donated to poor schoolchildren if he was ever found corrupt

News of Cao’s candidacy quickly spread across the internet after a Hong Kong-based journalist and friend of Cao’s put up the following post on Sina Weibo, China’s answer to Twitter. 

“Prominent author and commentator Mr Cao Tian revealed that he is willing to invest 100 million yuan in campaign funds to run for mayor of Zhengzhou city. Cao states that if he was selected, he will not take a penny in wages and pledges to fight official corruption by imposing severe punishment.”

Cao added on his on weibo account, "Please don't suspect my intentions, I will use the electoral law to pry open the rigid appointment/selection system of cadres.”