'Lunar Embassy' appeals to get back licence
By Liu Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-11-16 06:46

A Beijing-based company whose licence was suspended after it tried to sell land on the moon is appealing in court to get its licence back from the local administration for industry and commerce.

It was announced yesterday that the Beijing Haidian District People's Court accepted the case on Monday.

The shadow advances on the moon during a lunar eclipse in January 2001. A Chinese company has had its license suspended after it tried to make money by selling land on the moon.[AFP/File]

The Beijing Lunar Village Aeronautics Science and Technology Company, or the so-called Lunar Embassy in China, had its licence suspended by the Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce late last month for engaging in speculation and profiteering.

The company asked the court to overturn the administration's decision and return its licence, seal, land ownership certificates and other properties.

The plaintiff believes that the administrative decision by the Beijing Municipal Administration for Industry and Commerce last month was baseless and brings enormous economic losses to the company.

"The commodities we are selling did not violate any laws and regulations," the plaintiff said.

The plaintiff claimed that it was a legal company registered at the administration for industry and commerce.

The company, registered in September, was authorized by the US Lunar Embassy to sell land on the moon, according to the plaintiff.

Official at the administration could not be reached yesterday for comment.

An administration official earlier said that State regulations require that all activities that are in violation of laws and regulations, and disturb social and economic order are considered to be engaged in speculation and profiteering.

It is reported that 34 clients bought 20 hectares of land on the moon in the first three days after the company opened for business last month.

(China Daily 11/16/2005 page2)