U.S. Bribery Case Sheds Light on Mysterious Chinese Company<br />In meetings at the United Nations, Mr. Ho, a former Hong Kong civil servant, laid the groundwork for millions of dollars of payments to the president of Chad<br />and Uganda’s foreign minister in exchange for oil rights in the two countries, federal prosecutors say.<br />The complaint does not name the Chinese company Mr. Ho represented,<br />but the specifics of the case make clear the company’s identity: CEFC China Energy Company.<br />It said it was “highly concerned” about the action taken against Mr. Ho, a former home affairs secretary in Hong Kong, and added<br />that the think tank did not “get involved in business activities of CEFC.”<br />CEFC has emerged from obscurity in recent years as a major player in the China’s plans for a modern day Silk Road, scooping up businesses in the oil, travel<br />and financial industries in the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Spain and the Middle East.<br />CEFC wanted to expand its oil operations into Chad,<br />and to do so with CNPC, a state-owned Chinese company facing a $1.2 billion fine in Chad for environmental violations.<br />But Chad’s fine against CNPC was ultimately lowered to $400 million,<br />and CEFC is in talks to develop an oil project in the country with CNPC, according to the CEFC website.<br />Details outlined by the Justice Department reveal the innovative tactics the company pursued to secure coveted oil rights in Chad<br />and Uganda through its nonprofit think tank in Hong Kong.
