The Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress Tuesday accepted the resignation of Beijing Mayor Meng Xuenong, and decided Wang Qishan to be the acting mayor.
Wang, 54, former secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Hainan Provincial Committee, was earlier appointed Beijing's vice- mayor.
The 53-year-old Meng, elected mayor of Beijing in January 2003, was removed from his post as a member, a member of the standing committee and deputy secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee by the CPC Central Committee on Sunday.
Meng submitted his resignation to the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress in Beijing Sunday.
According to Chinese laws, the standing committee of the people 's congress at various levels is authorized to appoint local officials up to the deputy heads. Only the annual plenary session of the people's congresses is entitled to elect head of the local governments.
(eastday.com April 22, 2003)
