(November 6, 1949)
To Liu, Zhu, Zhou, Nie, and Yang Shangkun:

(1) The Health Ministry’s erroneous self-criticism is to be distributed by Yang Shangkun to the heads of all departments, commissions, committees, associations, institutes, and schools under the Central Committee and the Military Commission for their reference. (2) The report on the Health Administration Conference prepared by the Health Ministry, together with the accompanying reference materials, touches upon military, political, financial, economic, cultural, and educational matters. It should therefore be circulated by Yang Shangkun to all members of the Politburo as well as Bo, Nie, Lu, Qiao, and Chen131, pending central discussion. Implementation will then proceed either through government legislation or administrative orders. At this Health Administration Conference, the document can only be adopted as a recommendation; no decisions may be made on its basis.

Mao Zedong
November 6

[1]
Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Nie refers to Nie Rongzhen.
Yang Shangkun was at that time Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee.
[2]
This refers to the Health Ministry of the Central People’s Government’s statement of self-criticism dated November 3, 1949, acknowledging errors such as failing to seek instructions from or report major policy issues to the Central Committee.
[3]
Bo refers to Bo Yibo, who at the time served as Deputy Director of the Financial and Economic Commission of the State Council.
Nie refers to Nie Rongzhen. Lu refers to Lu Dingyi, then Minister of Propaganda of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Director of the Cultural and Educational Commission of the State Council. Qiao refers to Hu Qiaomu, who held the posts of Deputy Minister of Propaganda of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary-General of the Cultural and Educational Commission of the State Council. Chen refers to Chen Boda, who was concurrently Deputy Minister of Propaganda of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Director of the Cultural and Educational Commission of the State Council.

Comments on Nie Rongzhen’s Report Regarding the Health Ministry Issue
Point two: Please have Nie inform He Chengii l.
[l]
He Cheng was at that time Minister of Health of the People’s Revolutionary Military Commission and Vice Minister of Health of the Central People’s Government.