Foxconn, the global smartphone manufacturing giant, recently announced its plan to invest in the construction of a new business headquarters building in Zhengzhou. This news prompt thousands of bank depositors in various towns and villages in Henan Province to flood Foxconn’s reporting hotline, cautioning them about significant investment risks.
In a recent development, Foxconn revealed that its subsidiary, the Foxconn Technology Group, has signed an agreement with the Henan provincial government to invest in the construction of a new business headquarters building in Zhengzhou, with a total investment of approximately 1 billion Chinese yuan.
It has been reported that numerous depositors from village and town banks in Henan have been contacting Foxconn’s hotline frequently in recent days and even lawyer depositors have issued investment risk letters. However, they have faced threats and intimidation from the police for their actions. While they have not received a response from Foxconn, depositors believe that their efforts are crucial.
One depositor expressed over the phone, “Henan is known for defaulters, so we must be cautious about getting misled. Nearly 40 billion yuan in deposits have been frozen for over 800 days. When considering investing with Henan, careful scrutiny of their integrity is essential to prevent deception. Three of our depositors were detained before the Lunar New Year and are still being held without any charges or trial, simply for trying to access their own savings.”
Mr. Liu, a victim from a village and town bank in Henan, stated, “There are still thousands of depositors from village and town banks in Henan who can clearly see the balance of their savings in their bank cards but have been inexplicably frozen for over 800 days by an unidentified department. The authorities have yet to provide an explanation regarding who froze our accounts.”
“Can the Henan authorities resolve these issues? Can they transparently inform the world about who froze our savings? For over 800 days, can any department in Henan provide us with written documentation for the frozen accounts? Even if they orally inform us about those responsible for freezing our accounts, we would be satisfied,” he remarked.
Mr. Li, another depositor, stated, “As depositors at village and town banks in Henan, our phones, cars, and ID cards have been under continuous surveillance by the police. Our faces are recognized, we get intercepted whenever we step outside, and gathering to fight for our rights becomes extremely challenging.”
“Our families include elderly and children who need care. Because of the impact on our rights advocacy work…
In 2022, multiple village and town banks in Henan abruptly shut down online withdrawal and transfer services almost simultaneously, leaving depositors unable to access their funds. This triggered panic among depositors, leading to rights advocacy and protests.
Currently, over a thousand UnionPay card and Level 2 card depositors in village and town banks in Henan have been unable to access their savings for 800 days and remain unaware of the department that froze their accounts. Deposit rights advocates have been monitored using high-tech means by public security and official personnel when riding, taking flights, or trains, limiting their freedom illegally, intimidating, and detaining them unlawfully.