Group's representatives face Beijing tax officials in first meeting since raid and shutdown

Representatives of a civil rights group, Gongmeng, met Beijing taxation authorities yesterday for the first time since their office was raided and shut down last week.

Xu Zhiyong, Gongmeng's legal representative and founder, previously had received a notice from the Beijing Local Taxation Bureau and the Beijing branch of the State Administration of Taxation ordering it to pay 1.23 million yuan (HK$1.39 million) in fines plus 180,000 yuan in back taxes. Gongmeng, comprising scholars, lawyers and rights advocates, applied for a hearing to defend itself under mainland tax rules.

The close-door hearing lasted almost three hours, and three officials from the local bureau heard arguments from Dr Xu and two lawyers. Bureau officials would not comment on the proceedings.

The fine was related to four grants from the Connecticut-based Yale University law school for projects including a study of the mainland's household registration system. Dr Xu said they had paid all taxes and he described the penalty as 'insane'.

'But we will go through all legal channels allowed for us in order to defend ourselves,' Dr Xu said to dozens of reporters, volunteers and petitioners outside the taxation office building. The situation was closely monitored by security guards and plain-clothes police.

On Thursday, Gongmeng will have a hearing with the State Administration of Taxation over state-level fines.