Managers at Chinese property giant Wanda fired for using Young Pioneers’ red scarf in adverts

Three senior managers at a property developer in eastern China have been sacked after using the red scarf, a symbol of the Young Pioneers, in advertisements.

The producer of the advertisement for a subsidiary of the property giant Wanda in Heze, a city in Shandong province, is also facing a judicial investigation for breaching the law that forbids its use for commercial purposes, Legal Daily reported.

Chinese primary schoolchildren are given a red scarf when they join the Young Pioneers.

They wear the garment when attending school, especially for events like flag-raising ceremonies or at the start of the school term.

At a road safety campaign event in Heze earlier this week the local subsidiary of the property giant Wanda handed out 100 red scarves advertising the company to pupils from Danyang Road Primary School.