Luckin CEO cleared of misconduct
CHINESE coffee chain Luckin Coffee said yesterday its board had found no evidence of misconduct by Chief Executive Guo Jinyi during a monthlong investigation into allegations made by some employees.
Guo, who took over after the competitor to Starbucks ousted co-founder and chairman Charles Zhengyao amid an internal fraud investigation, had denied the allegations.
The coffee chain’s explosive growth was halted last year by an investigation into its accounts for overstating 2019 revenue and understating net loss.
This resulted in a penalty of US$180 million to settle the fraud charges and the company seeking bankruptcy protection.
The latest investigation found that some members of the company’s former management had participated in the planning of the petition letter sent to the board on January 4.
Luckin said the special panel of the board reviewed more than 50,000 transaction documents, emails and other documents, and interviewed nearly 40 individuals — external parties and staff.
This was another disappointing year for Minhang residents who looked forward to returning to hometowns across China to spend the Chinese Lunar New Year with family.
Once again, coronavirus dashed many holiday plans, as authorities advised people not to travel to avoid spreading the disease.
But that doesn’t mean the holiday was necessarily a dismal event.
In Pujiang Town, some of the China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group’s workers returned to their hometowns well ahead of the holiday to avoid the travel crowds that might spread the infection.
Those who heeded authorities and stayed in Shanghai were told they could have holiday time off to visit hometown families after the threat had passed.
Cao Baohui, who is responsible for logistics and personnel management at the company, arranged holiday schedules according to progress on various segments of construction.
When he learned that several workers had pressing reasons to return to hometowns in Jiangxi Province, the company rented a car to take them home.
“The company arranged for us to take coronavirus tests and they came back negative, so there was no problem for us to leave,” said Bi Feiying, one of the workers who hopped in the rented car.
She has a son and a daughter back home and couldn’t wait to see them.
The car-rental fee was paid by the company, and the workers were told to keep in touch and inform the company of their safety.
Cao stayed in Shanghai instead of returning to his hometown in Hebei Province, one of the regions where clusters of new local cases were reported in the runup to the holiday.
“Of course, I wanted to go home to see my parents, but the pandemic had already recurred up there,” he said.
Cao was not idle. He organized catering services for workers who stayed in town.
Some Minhang companies used incentives to keep workers in Shanghai and stay on the job. Daikin Fluoro Coatings, for example, offered employees 1,500 yuan (US$230), and Engel Machinery distributed shopping cards and gift bags to its workers.
Migrant workers and college students staying put for the holiday were given free or discounted tickets to some of the hit movies screening in Minhang.
Zhaojialou Old Town was crammed with people hunting for local food specialties of the season.
At a stall selling salted meat, the owner said business was especially brisk. Some customers put in orders on WeChat and picked up their food later. The owner said some other customers traveled all the way from Baoshan District.
Among the popular local specialties were dried pig skin, salted chicken, pigs’ trotters and “drunken” geese stewed in spirits.
Most stall owners rose early every morning to cook foods for customers.
ABOUT 50 “smart” parking lots have gone into operation on Yongde Road in Wujing Town. Each of the spaces has a QR code on the ground. Drivers need only to scan the code to “unlock” it and pay before leaving. Signal lighting makes it easy for drivers to see whether slots are available.
MIRACLE Garden, a scenic site in Pujiang
Country Park, will be opened free of charge to medical workers throughout 2021. Users can sign up with valid work certificates.
HONGQIAO International Airport has put its parking reservations online. Drivers can make an appointment and “lock in” a space in advance on the app Alipay. The booking fare is 15 yuan (US$2.30) for spaces farther from the terminal and 25 yuan for those closer.
A WATERFRONT park is taking shape on Zhongchun Road in Qibao Town and will be opened in May. It is being built on the site of a former steel materials market
and will feature extensive greenery.
Going public
TAT Hong Equipment Service Co listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange last month, becoming the first Minhangbased company to go public this year. District Director Chen Yujian and Tat Hong President Huang Shanzhong attended an online debut ceremony.
A MINHANG resident recently won 5 million yuan in the China Sports Lottery. He spent 256 yuan on the draw and shared the first prize with three other winners. The man said he is a football fan and views his luck as a good omen for the new year.
MINHANG District is planning to turn its riverbank in Pujin Subdistrict into a tourist spot. It will include an art campsite, a museum, workshops, malls and an office area. Construction is set to conclude in September.
(Compiled by Yang Wenjie)
The photo exhibition by Zhang Yue renders a particular angle of the visual impact. John Szarkowski (1962-1991), former director of the photography department of MoMA, once said all pictures actually can be divided into two categories: window and mirror. We see the outside through the window, while we reflect ourselves through the mirror. Zhang, with her lens, opens the window to capture the moments of life, while reflecting her inner side — at the same time, with light and shade.
Dates: Through May 30, 1-9pm Venue: Frank’s Store, North Bund
Address: 229 Harbin Rd ࡘܻ՟ୟ33:ࡽ