Suggestions on Gradually Removing the “Rightist” Label from Rightists and Granting Amnesty to a Group of Criminals [1] (August 24 and September 14, 1959)  I. To Comrade Shaoqi:  Regarding the issue of gradually removing the “rightist” label from the nation’s 450,000 rightists in stages, Comrade Yang Shangkui [2] of the Jiangxi Provincial Party Committee has stated that this is an important policy matter.
He said he had already discussed it with you, and that you had agreed to take the matter back to Beijing for unified consideration.
In my view, given sufficient time, it should be possible to win over at least 70 percent of the rightists.
For example, over the next seven years—or even longer—it might be feasible to secure the reformation and removal of the “rightist” label from roughly 10 percent of them each year.
I suggest that you bring this up for discussion at a meeting of the Standing Committee and the Secretariat, and that the Central Committee issue an instruction [3]. On the occasion of the Tenth Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, on the basis of genuine evidence of reform, the “rightist” label could be removed from approximately 45,000 individuals—the first group who have made proper progress—representing about 10 percent.
Such a move would be highly beneficial in educating rightists, the general bourgeoisie, intellectuals, and members of the democratic parties; they would come to feel that there is indeed a future open to them.
It would also be very advantageous for the ongoing campaign against right-wing opportunism and for boosting morale.
Should any of those who have had their labels removed subsequently relapse into rightist tendencies—again, or even a third time—that would not be a serious matter; we could simply reinstate their “rightist” status.
Furthermore, I am considering whether, on the occasion of this year’s Tenth National Day, we might grant amnesty to a group—  not a general amnesty, but rather what was formerly known as a “partial pardon,” that is, a localized exemption from punishment—to war criminals and ordinary criminal offenders currently serving sentences who have genuinely repented and turned over a new leaf.
If… … … … … … … … … … …  If we were to proceed with this measure, there are only a little more than thirty days remaining until National Day.
Would there be enough time to conduct a thorough review?
Alternatively, we could postpone it until autumn while still using the Tenth Anniversary of National Day as the occasion.
I would appreciate your convening the relevant comrades to deliberate on the feasibility of this proposal.
I plan to return by the end of the month.
Mao Zedong  Written in Hangzhou on August 24, based on the manuscript.

II.
To the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress:  The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China hereby submits the following recommendation to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress: On the occasion of the celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, a special amnesty should be granted to a group of war criminals, counterrevolutionary offenders, and ordinary criminal offenders who have truly repented and turned over a new leaf.

Our socialist revolution and socialist construction have achieved great victories.
Our motherland is thriving, with vigorous development in production and construction and steadily improving living standards.
The people’s democratic dictatorship has been consolidated and strengthened to an unprecedented degree.
The political awareness and organizational level of the entire nation have reached an all-time high.
The country’s political and economic situation is extremely favorable.
The policy pursued by the Party and the People’s Government—combining punishment with leniency and integrating labor reform with ideological education—has yielded remarkable results in dealing with counterrevolutionaries and other criminals.
The majority of prisoners of various types have undergone varying degrees of reform, and many have indeed repented and turned over a new leaf.

In light of these circumstances, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deems it appropriate, on the occasion of the celebration of the Tenth Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, to announce an amnesty for a selected group of war criminals, counterrevolutionary offenders, and ordinary criminal offenders who have genuinely repented and turned over a new leaf.
This measure will further help transform negative factors into positive ones and will play a significant educational role in the continued rehabilitation of these individuals as well as other prisoners.
It will enable them to realize that, under our great socialist system, as long as they repent and reform, they too can look forward to a bright future.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China respectfully requests the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress to consider the above recommendation and adopt a corresponding resolution.

Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China  September 14, 1959  Printed according to the edition published in the People’s Daily on September 18, 1959.

Notes  [1] This document (I) is a letter from Mao Zedong to Liu Shaoqi concerning the phased removal of the “rightist” label from rightists and the granting of amnesty to a group of war criminals and ordinary criminal offenders currently serving sentences who have genuinely repented and turned over a new leaf.
Document (II) is a written proposal submitted by Mao Zedong on behalf of the CPC Central Committee to the NPC Standing Committee for an amnesty for a group of war criminals, counterrevolutionary offenders, and ordinary criminal offenders who have truly repented and turned over a new leaf.
It was published in the People’s Daily on September 18, 1959, under the original title “Recommendation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.”

[2] Yang Shangkui was then First Secretary of the CPC Jiangxi Provincial Committee.

[3] On September 7, 1959, the CPC Central Committee issued a notice to the party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions entitled “On Discussing the Issues of Granting Amnesty to Criminals and Removing the ‘Rightist’ Label from Those Who Have Truly Repented.”
On September 16, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council adopted the “Decision on the Handling of Rightists Who Have Demonstrated Genuine Reform” (published in the People’s Daily on September 18, 1959). On September 17, the CPC Central Committee issued the “Instructions on Removing the ‘Rightist’ Label from Those Who Have Truly Repented.”
On November 2, the CPC Central Committee further adopted the “Regulations on the Assignment of Work and Living Benefits for Persons Whose ‘Rightist’ Labels Have Been Removed.”

[4] At its ninth session held on September 17, 1959, the Second Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the “Decision on Granting Amnesty to Offenders Who Have Truly Repented”; on the same day, Liu Shaoqi signed the “Presidential Amnesty Decree of the People’s Republic of China,” and the CPC Central Committee issued the “Instructions on Granting Amnesty to Criminals.”