A restaurant in Siming District, Xiamen City, was fined 1 million yuan by the Siming District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau for soliciting customers through kickbacks to taxi drivers. This news quickly made its way to the hot searches on Baidu on July 19th, sparking discussions among netizens.
Recently, Professor Li Jianwei from China University of Political Science and Law posted an administrative penalty notice from the Siming District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau on social media.
The notice indicated that Shuaishuai Xian Restaurant in Siming District, Xiamen City, was found to be suspected of engaging in commercial bribery by offering kickbacks to taxi drivers to attract customers, resulting in an administrative fine of 1 million yuan.
According to the notice, the restaurant has the right to make a statement, defend itself, and request a hearing. Failure to exercise these rights within five working days from receiving the notice or not requesting a hearing will be considered as waiving these rights.
An employee from the Siming District Market Supervision and Administration Bureau responded to inquiries from media on July 16th, confirming the incident.
When asked about the basis for the 1 million yuan fine, the bureau mentioned that the business has the right to appeal, but specific details of the case cannot be disclosed at the moment.
Public records show that Shuaishuai Xian Restaurant in Siming District, Xiamen City was established in February 2024 and is currently active. The restaurant’s operator has expressed intentions to appeal the “fine”.
Professor Li Jianwei commented on the situation, stating that it was excessive for a small restaurant to be fined 1 million yuan for offering taxi drivers incentives to bring customers. He emphasized that such a penalty seemed unreasonable for an establishment that might not even earn 200,000 yuan in a year.
In recent years, the Chinese government’s approach of imposing heavy penalties for minor offenses has garnered public attention and criticism.
Netizens raised questions and shared varying opinions on the matter. Some questioned the basis for the hefty fine, while others pointed out common practices in certain industries and expressed sympathy for small business owners facing challenges.
Ultimately, the incident serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding business operations and regulatory enforcement, prompting discussions on fairness and consistency in administrative penalties across different sectors.