Comments on the Draft Notice Regarding the Prohibition of Constructing New Guesthouses [I]
(November 3, 1960)
Return to Fuchun Yang’s Office.


Sichuan


In this central notice draft, submitted by Zhou Enlai to Mao Zedong and others for their review on October 23, 1960, it is stated that the Central Committee has repeatedly instructed all Party members to refrain from entertaining guests, giving or receiving gifts, flaunting extravagance, and engaging in ostentatious displays. While most regions and departments have made progress in implementing these instructions, a small number have done so only half-heartedly.  In order to rectify all forms of extravagance and waste, the following provisions are hereby laid down: (1) All government organs, factories, mines, enterprises, military units, schools, mass organizations, and people’s communes are prohibited from presenting gifts, or engaging in any disguised form of gift-giving, to any organization or individual. (2) For newly developed products that have been successfully trial-manufactured, only one sample may be sent to the directly responsible supervisory authority. It is strictly forbidden to present such items—under the guise of a gift or any other pretext—to higher-level leading bodies or to other organizations and individuals. (3) When central and local officials at all levels go on inspection tours or visits, local authorities shall not arrange for official welcomes or farewells; the mobilization of the masses for such ceremonies is absolutely prohibited. Accommodation and meals shall be kept as simple as possible, with banquets and special receptions strictly forbidden. Food and grain coupons should be charged according to established standards. (4) Meetings must be streamlined. Any meeting that is unnecessary or can be dispensed with shall be canceled without exception; meetings that are optional should also be avoided; meetings with overlapping agendas or identical tasks should be combined; and for those meetings that must be held, the number of participants should be reduced, and the financial department’s prescribed meeting expenditure limits must be strictly observed. (5) From central government organs down to the level of people’s communes, no new guesthouses or other non-productive construction projects shall be undertaken over the next seven years. Should special circumstances necessitate new construction, prior approval must be obtained from the Central Committee or from the relevant province, municipality, or autonomous region. Existing guesthouses must reduce their staff and equipment and improve operational efficiency. During his review, Mao Zedong changed the date of issuance of this notice to “November 3, 1960.”
[2]


Fuchun refers to Li Fuchun, who at that time served as a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and Vice Premier of the State Council.