Commentary on the Hebei Provincial Public Security Department’s Report Concerning the Arrests of Counterrevolutionaries in the Tianjin Special District (March 25, 1951) To all Central Bureaus, with copy to Branch Bureaus, Provincial Committees, Regional Party Committees, Municipal Committees of Large and Medium-Sized Cities, and Prefectural Committees: This document [1] is to be forwarded down to the prefectural level.
It is hoped that all localities will follow the approach adopted in the Tianjin Special District (excluding Tianjin City) in handling counterrevolutionary cases, so as to prevent indiscriminate arrests.
Mao Zedong March 25

Based on the manuscript print.
Notes [1] Refers to the report dated March 10, 1951, from the Public Security Department of the People’s Government of Hebei Province to the Ministry of Public Security of the Central People’s Government, concerning the arrests of counterrevolutionaries in the Tianjin Special District.
The report states that on the evening of March 3, the Tianjin Special District mobilized cadres at or above the district level, various armed forces, and village-level cadres—totaling more than ten thousand personnel—in a swift, surprise operation to apprehend major counterrevolutionary elements, including former Kuomintang party members, secret agents, military and political officials of the puppet regime, and notorious bandit leaders.
The operation was characterized by precise targeting, tight organization, strict discipline, rapid execution, and the capture of every designated individual without a single wrongful arrest.
The broad masses applauded with great satisfaction, while reactionary elements were seized with terror.
The key lessons learned were: 1) Thorough preparation and meticulous organization, with clear division of responsibilities; 2) Arrests were carried out solely on the basis of warrants specifying the suspect’s name, age, identifying features, address, and nature of the crime.
This not only ensured compliance with legal procedures but also guaranteed accuracy and prevented arbitrary or mistaken arrests; 3) Disciplinary rules were announced prior to the operation, which greatly strengthened the sense of responsibility among the cadres and enabled them to complete this arduous task in an orderly manner, without any disorder or confusion.