Former candy boss killed by falling rocks reportedly dislodged by monkeys

Weng Mao, chairman of Shanghai Guanshengyuan Group, delivers a speech on August 18, 2009, at a ceremony announcing the sponsorship of Shanghai Expo 2010. [Photo/IC]

A former chairman of one of the most popular candy manufacturing companies in the country died after he was hit by falling rocks reportedly dislodged by monkeys in a scenic spot in central China's Henan province, sina.com.cn reported Friday.

Weng Mao, 67, who recently retired from his post as the chairman of Shanghai Guanshengyuan Group, died of injuries after being hit by falling rocks at Yuntaishan scenery area in Wuxiu county of Henan on April 19, according to a message from the administration bureau of the scenic spot which circulated online Thursday.

The message claimed the rocks were kicked off by monkeys. However, the travel agency that organized the trip refused to confirm the claim, saying that stones continued to fall there when the agency employees and local police probed the case.

Workers in the area found Weng injured around 9:20 am on April 19, and they reported the case to police and rushed Weng to Wuxiu County People's Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, a statement from the county's police said.

The scenic spot employees later inspected the site and discovered that monkeys had kicked off the rocks, according to the police statement sent to Sina.com.cn.

The administration bureau of Yuntaishan scenery area confirmed a death of a tourist in a statement issued on Friday on its official Sina Weibo account, a Twitter-like service, without naming the visitor.

It added that it was in touch with the visitor's family. Weng's status was identified by news portal Sina.com.cn from his ID number in a police statement and ID number published by Shanghai Maling Aquarius Co Ltd, a listed and affiliated company to Shanghai Guanshengyuan Group.

The Group began producing the White Rabbit creamy candy in 1943 and it soon became famous and a popular gift for people from all over the country. In 1972, then-premier Zhou Enlai gave White Rabbit candies to then-US President Richard Nixon during the latter's visit to China. The candies became popular overseas as well.

Weng gained his master's degree from Shanghai's Fudan University. He worked in Shanghai light industry bureau for 15 years from 1978. In 1992, he joined Guanshengyuan. He was also the head of China National Confectionery Association and China National Food Industry Association's deputy chairman.

Sina.com.cn reported that Weng liked mountain climbing and hiking.