Former Hebei Party chief expelled from CPC

BEIJING - Zhou Benshun, former Party chief of Hebei province, has been expelled from the Communist Party of China (CPC) and dismissed from public office for offenses that included graft, speaking against the party line and hindering an official investigation.

"Zhou severely violated political disciplines and rules," the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said in a statement on Friday.

"Zhou made remarks on major issues which went against the spirit of the central authority, and failed to earnestly implement the responsibility of building of a clean government by interfering with and hindering organizational investigation," the statement said, without providing further details.

"Zhou seriously violated organizational disciplines to promote officials, and failed to report related personal matters," it said.

He also flouted the rules of a frugality campaign introduced at the end of 2012 engaging in lavish receptions, feasting with public funds, frequenting private clubs, and "living an extravagant and wasteful life."

Zhou accepted bribes and took advantage of his post to seek profits for others, including his son, whose business interests he helped. "His family values were corrupt and he indulged his wife and children," the statement said.

In addition, he broke CPC internal rules by storing classified documents and leaking state secrets, the CCDI said.