Banned Mr Huang asks for it back

THE Chinese ex-figurehead of a company behind the Gold Coast’s Jewel towers now banned from Australia has called the decision “ridiculous” and asked for political donations to be returned.

Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo had been living in Sydney and was until late last year the chairman of Yuhu Group.

Yuhu Group is in the completion stages of its $1.4-billion Jewel triple towers project on the beach’s edge at Surfers Paradise.

Mr Xiangmo sensationally had his citizenship application rejected and resident axed, effectively blocking his return to Australia and his $13m Sydney home.

In his first comments on the situation, Mr Xiangmo released a statement published in The Australian saying the basis for the visa cancellation was “ridiculous”.

Mr Huang, who has doled out almost $2m in political donations to both sides of the spectrum, accused parties of soliciting the donations and called for their return.

“All donations related to myself were made at the request of the receiving political parties and their representatives as opposed to being proactive offerings,” he said.

“If any of the past donations I made were deemed inappropriate by any political party or political figure, I again propose the option for them to duly return the amount donated without the need to pay any interest.

“The returned money will then be donated to Australian charitable organisations accordingly.”

His son Jimmy Huang now Yuhu Group chairman. is