WUHAN, Dec. 16  -- Xiong Changfen, deputy director of a provincial level economic development zone in south China's Hubei Province has been placed under investigation, the provincial disciplinary watchdog said on Tuesday.

Xiong is the third official from Xianning economic development zone to be investigated this year, following Yang Qi, director of the construction management bureau, in May and Cheng Chuanli, another deputy director in November.