Two officials expelled for "superstitious activities" in China

Two local Chinese officials were expelled from the Communist Party of China in central Hunan Province for performing "superstitious activities" which are banned by the ruling party, authorities said today.
Tang Yuansong, former head of the housing and construction bureau of Linwu County, attended five fengshui training courses in different cities under the guise of "investigation tours" starting in 2008, a statement by the commission for discipline inspection of Chenzhou City said.
The training sessions cost 54,000 yuan (USD 8,000) in total and were reimbursed as business trip expenses, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying.
Since 2014, he also received 5,000 yuan annually on average for "practicing fengshui" for others, it said.

Huang Xiaowen, former head of Tuqiao Township of Rucheng County, asked others to set up an altar to cast spells and paid 100,000 yuan in tribute each time, with hopes of being promoted.
Both the officials have been expelled from the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), which banned its members from practicing religion.
Judicial authorities will further investigate their cases for criminal activity, such as graft and embezzlement, the report said.