Chinese anti-corruption authorities announced Friday they are investigating Chongqing Mayor Hu Henghua for alleged serious violations of law and party discipline.
China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection revealed the probe in a brief statement but provided no specific details about the nature of the alleged violations against Hu.
This investigation represents the latest development in China’s ongoing “high-pressure” anti-corruption drive targeting Communist Party officials. The campaign has resulted in numerous senior party members facing investigations, dismissals, and criminal charges in recent years.
Chongqing ranks among China’s four directly-controlled municipalities, sharing equivalent administrative authority with provinces. The other three cities with this special status are Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai.
Hu’s record includes a previous disciplinary action from 2023, when party officials issued him a formal warning for inadequate oversight of housing, construction, and safety standards. This failure contributed to a deadly building collapse in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, which claimed more than 50 lives in 2022.
The mayor took office in Chongqing in December 2021, following a career that included various high-ranking positions in Hunan province from late 2013 through 2020.
