CHENGDU, Dec. 27 (NBD) -- The State Council last Thursday issued an administrative demerit record to Ma Qiulin, vice governor of Jiangsu province, and an administrative warning to Zhang Jiehui, vice governor of Hebei province, as steel companies in the two provinces were still seeking to increase capacity despite the central government's efforts to curb steel production. 

In addition, 111 persons-in-charge in Jiangsu and 27 in Hebei were also held accountable for the violations.

In a recent investigation, Jiangsu Huada Steel Co., Ltd. was found to be producing and selling steel bars without a permission, while Hebei Anfeng Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. was reportedly building a steel production base before getting the nod from the watchdog.