Trial date set for Stern Hu in China

Australian businessman Stern Hu will face trial in China on March 22 - and some
court sessions will be closed to Australian authorities, the federal government has
announced.
Mr Hu and three other employees of mining giant Rio Tinto were detained in China on
July 5, 2009, during contentious iron ore price talks with China's steel industry
group.
The case has strained relations between Beijing and Australia, a key supplier of the
bulk commodity to China's steel mills.
Australian officials in China have received official notification that the trial of
Hu and the other employees will begin on Monday, March 22.
He faces charges of receiving bribes and infringing commercial secrets in the
Shanghai No 1 Intermediate People's Court.
Hu will be represented by his legal counsel.
A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said
Australian consular officials would attend some of the trial.
Officials would attend the open sessions of the trial, which related to the charge
of receiving bribes.
But not all sessions would be open - and Australia has objected.
"At the request of one of the parties and in accordance with Chinese law and
procedure, the court has decided that the sessions dealing with the infringement of
commercial secrets should be closed," the spokesperson said.
"As a consequence, court authorities have advised that Australian consular officials
are not able to attend that part of the proceedings.
"Australian officials have asked for this to be reconsidered."
The spokesperson welcomed the fact that the case was now moving to a trial.
Chinese law provides for a maximum penalty of seven years' jail and a fine for
stealing commercial secrets, and more than five years' jail for bribery.