Quotable

"Internet celebrities should set an example of protecting people's legal rights and denouncing any activities that harm the reputation and interests of others."

Lu Wei, director of the State Internet Information Office, at a meeting in Beijing on Aug 10. He said some Internet celebrities can markedly influence public opinion, and that could be used to deliver positive and constructive messages to people. Celebrities should uphold the law and promote virtues and trust, Lu said.

"There is no need for the public to hate rich people. The wealth of the rich deserves respect from society. All the wealth created in China belongs to the country."

Zong Qinghou

, chairman of China's biggest beverage producer, Hangzhou Wahaha Group, quoted by the magazine China Philanthropist. Zong, ranked the country's richest man with a net worth of $11.6 billion (8.7 billion euros), criticized the idea of helping the poor by robbing the rich. Doing that would provoke an exodus of wealthy people from the country, creating a loss of state assets, he said.

"This incident (four Shanghai court officials in a prostitution scandal) has hugely affected and harmed the Party's course and the rule of law in our nation."

Cui Yadong, Party chief of Shanghai High People's Court, quoted by People's Court Daily as telling a conference in Shanghai on Aug 8. Cui called on judges in the city to reflect on their work and learn from the scandal. The four judges have been removed from their posts after approval by the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/16/2013 page3)