According to reports, Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of Shaolin Temple who is under investigation by Chinese authorities for alleged criminal offenses, has successively served as a director of five companies in Hong Kong.
On the 27th, Chinese state media reported that Shi Yongxin (secular name Liu Yingcheng) is suspected of criminal offenses, including embezzlement and misappropriation of temple assets, as well as serious violations of Buddhist precepts, such as maintaining improper relationships with multiple women over a long period and fathering illegitimate children. He is currently under joint investigation by multiple departments.
According to Hong Kong media reports on the 31st, Shi Yongxin has successively served as a director of five limited companies in Hong Kong, one of which has already been dissolved. Two others were subjected to a removal procedure initiated by the official company registry last month, and the remaining two are still legally registered companies: Hong Kong Shaolin Temple Limited (Hong Kong Shaolin Temple) and Shaolin Bookstore Hong Kong Limited (Shaolin Bookstore).
The report pointed out that as of the end of March last year, the net assets of Hong Kong Shaolin Temple amounted to 2.39 million Hong Kong dollars (1.29 million ringgit), and it also owns properties worth over 10 million Hong Kong dollars.
As for whether the Shaolin Temple’s companies and assets in Hong Kong will be affected by the Shi Yongxin incident, the report quoted Legislative Council member and lawyer Christopher Cheung as saying that this would depend on the nature of the operations, assets, and shareholding structure of the Hong Kong companies. If the Hong Kong companies operate normally, for example, without involvement in illegal transfer of assets from China, they will not be affected.
Another Hong Kong media report stated that after Shi Yongxin was officially investigated, his younger brother Liu Yingbiao (Dharma name Shi Yongsheng) also lost contact.
It was reported that Liu Yingbiao had served as a shareholder in Shaolin Temple’s associated enterprises, and held positions such as Secretary-General of the Shaolin Calligraphy and Painting Institute; on the 30th, in response to an inquiry from Chinese media, the Shaolin Calligraphy and Painting Institute said that they are currently unable to contact Liu Yingbiao and the specific situation is unclear.