Commentary by the Central Committee on the Decisions of the North China Bureau and the Xinjiang Branch Regarding Strengthening the Party’s Leadership over Government Work (June 2, 1953) To All Central Bureaus, Branches, and Provincial/City Party Committees: (1) Two documents are enclosed for your reference. One is the North China Bureau’s Regulations on Strengthening the System of Requests for Instructions and Reports from the Various Departments of the North China Administrative Committee to the North China Bureau, as well as on Enhancing the Bureau’s Leadership over Government Work [1]. The other is the Xinjiang Branch’s Decision on Strengthening the System of Requests for Instructions and Reports from the Various Departments within the Provincial People’s Government System to the Branch, and on Intensifying the Branch’s Leadership over the Work of the Provincial People’s Government [2]. (2) Regions and provinces/cities that have not yet made decisions on this matter are urged to do so promptly and report back.

Printed on June 2 by the Central Committee, based on Mao Zedong’s manuscript. Notes [1] In these Regulations, issued by the North China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on May 21, 1953, to the Leading Party Group of the North China Administrative Committee, the Suiyuan-Mongolia Branch, all provincial committees, all municipal committees, and the leading party groups of various people’s organizations, with a copy also sent to the Central Committee, it is stated: In accordance with the spirit of the Central Committee’s Decision (draft) on Strengthening the System of Requests for Instructions and Reports from the Various Departments of the Central People’s Government to the Central Committee, and on Enhancing the Central Committee’s Leadership over Government Work, and taking into account the specific conditions prevailing in North China, in order to reinforce the North China Bureau’s leadership over government work, ensure the correct implementation of the Party Central Committee’s guidelines, policies, plans, and major matters, and to prevent and overcome tendencies toward decentralization and various forms of disorganization and indiscipline, it has been decided to abolish the General Leading Party Group of the North China Administrative Committee, further streamline the administrative apparatus of the committee, and to establish a system whereby the leading party groups of all government departments shall submit requests for instructions and reports to the North China Bureau. Moreover, individual members of the North China Bureau will be assigned specific responsibilities to strengthen their oversight and guidance of government operations. [2] In this Decision adopted by the Xinjiang Branch of the CPC Central Committee on May 20, 1953, it is stipulated: In order effectively to strengthen the system of requests for instructions and reports from the government to the Branch, and to intensify the Branch’s leadership over government work, thereby preventing and overcoming certain instances of disorganization, indiscipline, and independent action that have either occurred or might occur, the following measures are prescribed: All major and important guidelines, policies, plans, and significant matters pertaining to the work of the Provincial People’s Government must first be discussed and decided upon or approved by the Branch before being implemented through the government. The leading party groups of all departments within the government system are required to submit regular comprehensive reports to the Branch; the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Provincial People’s Government who are Party members shall be responsible for presenting to the Branch a consolidated report on the work of all government departments. Specialized meetings convened by any department of the government system must be reported in advance and may be held only after obtaining approval. Any meeting that involves the determination of fundamental principles or policy-related major issues must have its proceedings and resolutions reported to the Branch. The Executive Committee of the Leading Party Group of the Provincial People’s Government is hereby abolished. Several key officials engaged in government work will assume specific responsibilities and report directly to the Branch. Furthermore, weekly meetings of the Branch Party Committee are to be improved and institutionalized, and the collective study and dissemination of central directives are to be maintained and enhanced. The Branch Secretary will assume specific responsibilities, the Secretariat will be reinforced, and working procedures will be refined.