Huang Ju - Illness

Illness

In February 2006, the South China Morning Post reported that Huang was seriously ill, and was expected to step down. Although some government officials said he had pancreatic cancer, the party never disclosed the nature of his condition. On 17 March, sources reported he was near death. Huang attended a Science and Technology forum in Beijing on 5 June, which some suggest was to show he was alive and well.

After giving a keynote speech at the State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) executives' conference on 5 January 2007, he was notably absent at the Central Conference on Financial Affairs later on that month. Although his condolences were accounted for, rank-appropriate, during Communist elder Bo Yibo's funeral, his absence prompted speculation that Huang's critical condition was preventing him from carrying out his official duties. Hong Kong media speculated that Huang was undergoing medical treatment in Shanghai. Huang appeared, looking frail, during the National People's Congress in March 2007. The government denied Huang's request to resign effective March 2007, but thereafter his position became purely ceremonial, handing over his role of oversight of the Financial Affairs portfolio to premier Wen Jiabao in January. Huang disappeared from public view in March 2007. Huang left Shanghai in April and was admitted to the 301 Military Hospital in Beijing, after which his health situation deteriorated.

Citing sources inside the 301 Military Hospital in Beijing, The Times reported that Huang died on the morning of 9 May 2007. Phoenix Television was the only Chinese station to broadcast the news, did so on its on-screen ticker from about 19h00. However, at 19h30, the State Council denied the reports. Phoenix reported the news ostensibly in an audacious attempt to test the limits of government restrictions on news, but after the State Council denial, the TV station retracted the news and issued an apology. The government responded by closing off the south-west wing of the 301 Military Hospital; and directed that all news related to Huang on television and on the internet follow official releases from Xinhua. False rumours of Huang's death were repeated twice thereafter, used online as an opportunity to vent anger at social and political problems. The timing of the death is particularly sensitive due to its close proximity to the 20th anniversary of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. Despite his being incapacitated, Huang was elected as one of Shanghai's local party representatives to the Party's 17th Party Congress on 29 May.