Rupert Hoogewerf, the author of the annual Hurun China Rich List, said about a third of the 800 immensely wealthy people on his compilation this year were members of the ruling Communist Party.

Ten percent are either lawmakers or members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an advisory organ, Hoogewerf told reporters in Beijing.

"The very idea that you are getting people who are good in their particular fields beginning to have a say at the top level I think probably is some form of democracy, making a contribution to getting their voices heard," he said.

"And these guys, don't underestimate them. If they think something is crap, they would tell (the government)."

He said companies of such a big size would be closely linked to the government just as in the UK and in Europe.

"Yes, all these people are linked to the government in one way or another, unless you are a stock market king -- you have no need for the government," he said.

The Communist Party has permitted private businesspeople to join its ranks in recent years in a bid to co-opt the most entrepreneurial parts of society.

It is the world's largest political party with 73 million members.

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