Notes on Liu Jingfan’s Letter (August 16, 1953) To Comrade Gao Gang [2]: Please read and return it to Comrade Liu Jingfan. We should proceed with great caution regarding this person [3]. There are individuals like him—consistently dissatisfied with our work—in various localities. Since he has not engaged in any secret activities but merely voiced his reactionary views openly, it would be advisable first to adopt an educational approach: criticize him and isolate him. Moreover, Premier Zhou’s opinion [4] is worthy of attention. Mao Zedong, August 16.

Printed from the manuscript. Notes [1] Liu Jingfan was at the time Deputy Director of the People’s Supervisory Commission of the Government Administration Council. [2] Gao Gang was then Chairman of the State Planning Commission of the Central People’s Government and Secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. [3] Refers to a certain staff member of the Jilin Provincial Department of Industry who had written to the Supervisory Commission, as mentioned in Liu Jingfan’s letter of July 20, 1953, addressed to Zhou Enlai and forwarded to Mao Zedong. The letter stated that this individual had recklessly slandered and defamed the Party’s policies and put forward numerous unreasonable demands, clearly constituting a malicious attack and sabotage by a counterrevolutionary element. It is understood that this person had previously been a member of the Youth League for National Salvation and the Kuomintang; since liberation he has consistently harbored dissatisfaction with the Communist Party, and it is proposed to consult with the Ministry of Public Security for investigation and handling.


[4] “Comrade Jingfan: I concur with your view.” Zhou Enlai’s annotation on Liu Jingfan’s letter reads: “I agree with your opinion. However, since this person dared to write an open letter, in addition to the political background you have outlined, we must also pay attention to certain specific matters he raised. Most notably, there is the issue of three public–private joint‑venture factories under the administration of the Jilin Provincial Department of Industry that were relocated from Shanghai.”