Actress Liu Xiaoqing has paid most of the tax debt her company owed, according to the State Taxation Administration.

The total due was 16.46 million yuan. The figure included about 10 million yuan in back taxes, plus some penalties.

Liu still owes another 3 million yuan in penalties, according to the tax administration.

Last April Liu's company was investigated by the Beijing tax administration and the debt was revealed. Liu, who heads the company, was arrested but released on bail in August.

Liu was tried in court last December but lawyers for the case said the judgment won't be delivered until February.

(Shenzhen Daily January 15, 2004)