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Mingpao: Wen Jiabao’s Family Lawyer May Pursue Legal Action against New York Times

On October 25, 2012, the New York Times carried an article titled, “Billions in Hidden Riches for Family of Chinese Leader.” The article alleged that Wen’s extended family "controlled assets worth at least $2.7 billion." On October 28, 2012, Hong Kong’s Ming Pao carried an article reporting that the newspaper received a faxed statement from two lawyers in Beijing on behalf of Wen Jiabao’s family declaring that the claims made in the New York Times article were not true.

The statement stressed that Wen Jiaobao’s immediate family members do not hold any stocks and that the businesses they are involved in are legitimate. According to the article, Wen Jiabao’s mother has no other income or assets other than her monthly pension. Wen himself does not get involved in his family member’s business activities, nor does he pass any legislation as a result of his family members’ businesses. The statement also said that other relatives and their friends are responsible for their own business dealings. The lawyers’ statement stated that the family will maintain the right to pursue legal action against the New York Times.
 
Source: Mingpao, October 28, 2012
http://news.mingpao.com/20121028/caa1h.htm
New York Times, October 25, 2012
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/business/global/family-of-wen-jiabao-holds-a-hidden-fortune-in-china.html?pagewanted=all