A notification from the Ministry of Civil Affairs' Social Organization Administration on July 30 detailed typical cases of violations and disciplinary breaches in the social organization sector. The notice stated that since 2026, various regions and departments have intensified efforts to rectify irregularities among industry associations, chambers of commerce, and other social organizations at all levels, investigating and dealing with a series of violations and disciplinary cases. Among them, the accountability situation for the widely discussed over-configuration of leadership positions during the re-election of the Ningxia Catering and Hotel Association was disclosed.
An investigation revealed that in April 2025, the Ningxia Catering and Hotel Association, without submitting a review to the industry management department, directly submitted 29 candidate names for leadership positions to the registration management authority, and held a member representative assembly that illegally elected 83 leaders. In January 2026, the association unilaterally altered the annual meeting plan, adding an agenda item to elect additional vice presidents, and illegally increased the number of vice presidents by 8. In February 2026, relevant authorities imposed an administrative penalty of suspending the Ningxia Catering and Hotel Association's activities for three months, and held 9 individuals from the association, the Autonomous Region Department of Commerce, and the Department of Civil Affairs accountable. In April 2026, the relevant authorities issued a Party discipline warning to the association's Party branch secretary, Mr. Wang, and removed him from his post as Party branch secretary.
Previously, news that the Ningxia Catering and Hotel Association had 89 "vice presidents" sparked widespread online attention. On February 13, 2026, a joint investigation team released a notice on the investigation and handling of issues such as the over-configuration of leadership positions during the re-election of the Ningxia Catering and Hotel Association. The notice stated that on April 15, 2025, the association held its third first member representative assembly for re-election, electing 83 new leaders. On January 9, 2026, it held its third second member assembly, adding 8 more vice presidents (with one vice president's name published twice). In total, two election rounds produced 90 leaders (including 1 president, 1 secretary-general, 10 executive vice presidents, 74 vice presidents, and 4 specially invited vice presidents). According to Article 7, Paragraph 3 of the "Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Social Group Election Procedures (Trial)" (Ning Min Fa [2022] No. 64), which stipulates that "the number of directors must not exceed one-third of the membership, the number of executive directors must not exceed one-third of the directors, and the total number of leaders must not exceed half of the executive directors, be an odd number, and not exceed 40," the association's over-configuration of leadership positions was confirmed. The handling status indicated that the election results were deemed invalid, administrative penalties were imposed in accordance with the law, guidance was provided for a new re-election, and relevant individuals were held accountable.
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