Mayor Li Zibin yesterday confirmed his wife had been 'maltreated', but played down reports she had been beaten up by two People's Armed Police officers.
'An incident of impoliteness occurred. The case is now being investigated,' Mr Li said.
He refused to confirm that he had written to President Jiang Zemin to complain, as a Hong Kong newspaper reported.
'A little incident happened to my family recently. It is a private matter. There is no need to cause a sensation. Why make such a big issue out of it?' the leader told a press conference on the sidelines of Shenzhen's annual municipal legislature meeting.
The two armed police officers reportedly hit Mrs Li last month as she was on her way home from a banquet.
The alleged assault came after she criticised the officers for beating her driver. The driver had repeatedly sounded his horn as their Jeep was blocking the car.
