Huang Xiangmo

Huang Xiangmo (Chinese: 黄向墨) is a Chinese billionaire real estate developer. He was a permanent resident and political donor in Australia, but was later barred entry into the country on national security grounds. Additionally, then Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was advised by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation to not attend fundraisers or events where Huang was present, due to national security concerns.[1][2][3][4][5]

In this Chinese name, the family name is Huang.

Huang Xiangmo
Born
Chaozhou, China
OccupationReal estate developer
TitleCEO, Yuhu Group
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Children2

Early life

Huang was born in Chaozhou, China.[6]

Career

Huang is the CEO of Yuhu Group, a Sydney property development company.[7] Huang served as the honorary chairman of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China's Sixth Advisory Group.[8]

Huang has given A$2.7 million to Australian political parties either personally or through his companies.[1][3] His donations have been suspected to be on behalf of Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department, which were exerting influence on Australia's policies in favour of China through such political donations.[9][10] After Huang's permanent residency was cancelled, a letter backing Huang, which appeared on the front pages of three Australian Chinese-language newspapers as a paid advertisement, included more than 120 community groups protesting the decision to bar Huang from Australia. Many of the above groups were reportedly linked to the United Front Work Department.

Huang invited the then federal Labor Party leader Bill Shorten to his daughter's wedding to Evan Luo at the Shangri-la Sydney as a guest of honour.[11]

In February 2019, the Australian authorities barred his bid for citizenship and revoked his permanent residency, and he was "effectively barred from re-entering Australia."[12] His family are Australian citizens.[1] Huang asked the political parties to return his donations;[3] and also called Australia a "giant baby".[13]

Huang is being pursued in A$141 million in taxes owed to the Australian Taxation Office after allegedly understating his income from 2013 to 2015.[14][15]

In 2019, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption commenced investigations that Huang donated A$100,000 in cash to NSW Labor in 2015, in contravention of political donation legislation, triggering the resignation of Labor General Secretary Kaila Murnain and implicating former Labor politician Ernest Wong. Huang denied that he was the donor.[16] Former Labor Senator Sam Dastyari was implicated in a Chinese-related donations scandal involving Huang,[17][18][19] which eventually led to Dastyari's resignation from the Senate in January 2018.[20]

Huang was also implicated in media investigations that he provided advice to Crown Resorts on how the company should deal with Chinese officials regarding the arrest of Crown staff in China for breaking Chinese law by promoting gambling.[21]

Personal life

Mr Huang moved to Australia in 2011.

In 2018, Huang was living in a $12.8 million "mansion" in Beauty Point, Mosman, Sydney.[22]

In 2016, Huang's daughter Carina married Evan (Xiaozhi) Luo at the Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney.[22][23]

His son Jimmy Huang earned a bachelor's degree in economics.[22] In January 2018, aged 23, AWH Investment Group, owned 50/50 by Jimmy Huang and his brother-in-law Evan (Xiaozhi) Luo, was discovered to be the "mystery buyer" of two apartment projects at Circular Quay and the Gold Coast, sold by Wanda Group, China's largest property developer, for $1.119 billion.[22] Jimmy Huang and Evan (Xiaozhi) Luo both have Australian citizenship.[22]

References
  1. Knaus, Christopher (8 February 2019). "'Give back my money': banned billionaire Huang Xiangmo hits out at political parties". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  2. "Huang Xiangmo slams 'lies' behind stripping of his Australian residency". South China Morning Post. 8 February 2019. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  3. Belot, Henry (8 February 2019). "Chinese billionaire wants political parties to pay back his donations". ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 February 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  4. McKenzie, Nick (13 October 2019). "ICAC revelations against an infamous Chinese donor are a small part of the story". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  5. "Guests on Gladys Liu list for Malcolm Turnbull event sparked ASIO concerns". ABC News (Australia). 11 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  6. "Hastie wasn't hasty but right on time". The Spectator Australia. 28 May 2018. Archived from the original on 23 August 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  7. Tan, Su-Lin (9 August 2019). "China's Evergrande linked to Yuhu towers". The Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 6 August 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  8. Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China. "Brief introduction of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China". ACPPRC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  9. "Explainer: Why Australia revoked Chinese tycoon's citizenship citing 'political interference'". Hong Kong Free Press. 17 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  10. Cave, Damien (5 February 2019). "Australia Cancels Residency for Wealthy Chinese Donor Linked to Communist Party". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 3 August 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  11. "Subscribe to The Australian | Newspaper home delivery, website, iPad, iPhone & Android apps". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  12. Wyeth, Grant (9 February 2019). "Why Did Australia Push Out a Chinese Communist Party-Linked Billionaire?". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 17 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  13. "Chinese billionaire stripped of visa calls Australia 'a giant baby'". 9news. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 12 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  14. Calderwood, Kathleen (18 September 2019). "Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmo 'dramatically' increased money transfers overseas after ATO audit". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  15. "Huang Xiangmo ordered to reveal his fortune as ATO chases alleged $141m tax bill". ABC News. 24 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  16. Knaus, Christopher (6 September 2019). "Chinese billionaire Huang Xiangmao denies donating $100,000 to NSW Labor". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  17. "Sam Dastyari's expenses scandal a 'cash for comment' moment, says Turnbull". Guardian Australia. 2 September 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  18. "You can't buy trust". The Economist. 10 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  19. Yaxley, Louise (30 November 2017). "Bill Shorten dumps Sam Dastyari from Senate job, says he doesn't trust senator after latest China revelations". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  20. "Labor senator Sam Dastyari formally quits Parliament". Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 25 January 2018. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  21. McKenzie, Nick; Toscano, Nick; Tobin, Grace (31 July 2019). "China's alleged influence agent Huang Xiangmo was a Crown high roller". The Age. Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  22. Needham, Kirsty; Macken, Lucy (30 January 2018). "Company linked to political donor Huang Xiangmo scoops Circular Quay apartment project". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  23. Benson, Simon (10 April 2019). "Wedding photo reveals Bill Shorten's relationship with Huang Xiangmo". The Australian. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
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