Commentary by the Central Committee on the South China Bureau’s Decision to Strengthen Collective Leadership and the Division of Responsibilities Among Departments (June 8, 1953) To All Central Bureaus and Sub-bureaus; Also to Be Forwarded to the Municipal Committees of All Provinces: The Central Committee has approved the South China Bureau’s decision of June 1, 1953, concerning the strengthening of the Bureau’s collective leadership and the clear division of responsibilities among its various departments [1], and has transmitted this document to the municipal committees of all provinces for their guidance in taking similar measures.

Printed on June 8, 1953, from Mao Zedong’s manuscript.

Note [1]: In its decision, the South China Bureau of the CPC Central Committee stated that the South China region is currently undergoing a transition from reform to construction. To ensure the successful implementation of this current transition and of future construction tasks, the key lies in strengthening the Bureau’s leadership—specifically, in establishing a robust system of collective leadership combined with a clear division of responsibilities. Under the centralized and unified leadership of the Bureau, it is essential to reinforce the various departments, particularly with regard to the direct oversight of government work, so as to effectively take charge of all types of work, especially those related to finance and economics, culture and education, and political and legal affairs, thereby overcoming certain past tendencies toward fragmentation and lack of organization. To this end, the Bureau adopted several specific provisions.