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Moon land 'sales' pie in the sky, suspended
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-11-08 09:27
Want to buy a piece of the moon, the Brooklyn Bridge, or ocean-front property
in landlocked Arizona?
Beijing industrial
and commercial authorities have suspended the license of the company
"Lunar Embassy" offering to sell land on the moon, accusing it of
speculation and profiteering. [sina] |
The
gullible and moonstruck in China have bought the pie-in-the-sky deal from the
"Lunar Embassy" that "sold" plots of land on the moon.
But the Beijing industrial and commercial authorities have suspended the
license of a company offering to sell land on the moon, accusing it of
speculation and profiteering.
The beijing Lunar Village Aeronautics Science and Technology Co Ltd, with
domestic financing, was registered on September 5 but has now halted operation,
said a source with the Chaoyang District branch of the Beijing Municipal
Administration for Industry and Commerce over the weekend.
The so-called Lunar Embassy in China claimed that one can purchase an acre on
the moon for 298 yuan (US$37) through the company. The company started operation
on October 19.
The lunar Embassy issued customers a "certificate" that ensured property
ownership, including rights to use the land and minerals up to 3 kilometers
underground, Li Jie, chief executive officer of the company, was quoted as
saying in earlier reports.
A chaoyang District official said that according to state regulations, all
activities that violate state laws and regulations and disturb social and
economic order are considered to be engaged in speculation and profiteering.
The branch official said that the Lunar Embassy is suspected of being engaged
such infractions.
The chaoyang District branch together with local police also seized invoices,
"permits" of ownership of land on the moon, documents, files of employees and
more than 10,000 yuan involved in the company's business.
Li jie, CEO of Lunar Embassy, said that 34 clients bought 49 acres of land on
the moon in the first three days after his company became operational. The deals
involve more than 14,000 yuan.
Li said he would cooperate in the investigation and expected to reopen his
business when policies permit.
Investigations showed that the Lunar Embassy in China was registered to do
business in space travel, development of the moon and sales of land on the moon.
With a registered capital of 10 million yuan, the company has actually made
only 100,000 yuan, a source with the administration was quoted as saying by The
Beijing News.
In a different investigation, the Chaoyang District branch found that sale of
land on the moon was not listed as the company's business when it was
registered.
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