Wanda posts photos to dispel CEO rumors

The Dalian Wanda Group has put out a pair of photos showing CEO Wang Jianlin meeting with Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong's former chief executive.

Wang Jianlin (left) meets with Tung Chee-hwa, the former chief executive of Hong Kong, meet in Hong Kong on September 8, 2017. [Photo: Wanda Group]

Wanda says the meeting between Wang and Tung took place on September 8th in Hong Kong.

In releasing information about the meeting, Dalian Wanda is said to be trying to quash any remaining speculation that Wang Jianlin was under travel restrictions.

A report surfaced in late August suggesting Wang and his family had been banned from taking an international flight out of Tianjin. These reports also suggested the Chinese government had placed Wang under travel restrictions amid suggestions he might attempt to flee China to avoid legal problems connected to the company's debt load.

Dalian Wanda immediately denied the allegations. However, the reports led to a significant sell-off of Wanda's shares.

Wang Jianlin (2nd left) meets with Tung Chee-hwa (2nd right), the former chief executive of Hong Kong, meet in Hong Kong on September 8, 2017. [Photo: Wanda Group]

The company says it's now planning to sue the people who spread the reports through WeChat for 5 million yuan each. It's also threatening to sue US-based Chinese website boxun.com for 2 million US dollars.

The company is also demanding a public apology.