Report on Problems Among Local Leading Cadres [1] (Part I)
Additional Remarks [2]
(August 1965)


The veteran cadres from the north have made great contributions to the revolution and construction in the south, and this must be acknowledged. However, insufficient attention has been paid to the matter of promoting new cadres; this situation now needs to be changed.
[1]
In its report dated August 21, 1965, addressed to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee, the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee stated that recently both the Central Committee and Chairman Mao had pointed out that in many southern prefectural and county Party committees, the secretaries were still veteran cadres who had come south from the north, while the promotion of fresh forces had been very slow—after fifteen or sixteen years they still had not been promoted. This situation must be changed. It was suggested that these northern veteran cadres who had moved south should be gradually and in stages reassigned to suitable posts in their current localities, with some being transferred back to the north. At the same time, local outstanding cadres should be resolutely and systematically promoted to leadership positions at the county, prefectural, and provincial levels, receiving appropriate training and practical experience. During a recent symposium of organization ministers from the various central bureaus, we discussed the issue of cultivating and promoting local leading cadres in the southern provinces and regions, and put forward the following points: (1) Party committees at all levels should earnestly study the instructions of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman Mao, correctly grasp the spirit of the Chairman’s directives, and vigorously cultivate and boldly promote fresh forces among local cadres. Concrete plans for cultivation and promotion should be formulated and implemented person by person. (2) The work of cultivating and promoting local leading cadres should be closely integrated with the “Four Cleansings” campaign and with the readjustment of leading bodies. The primary targets for promotion and reassignment are the principal and deputy secretaries of prefectural and county Party committees, as well as the principal and deputy commissioners and county heads. Priority should be given to resolving issues at the county level, aiming to achieve basic completion within two to three years; somewhat more time may be allowed for the prefecture and commissioner-level posts. (3) When cultivating and promoting local leading cadres, appropriate adjustments should be made to cadres of northern origin. (4) Among the northern cadres who came south, those who are elderly and frail, have long-term illnesses, or have lost—either entirely or substantially—their capacity to work, require proper arrangements. The majority should be settled where they are; only a small number who must return to the north may be sent back and appropriately accommodated there. (5) The Party committees of all relevant regions must strengthen their leadership over this work, conducting thorough and meticulous ideological and organizational work. The process should be carried out according to a plan and in an orderly manner, avoiding hasty, sweeping replacements that could disrupt work and undermine unity.
[2]
This passage was added after the following sentence in the Organization Department’s report: “Local outstanding cadres should be resolutely and systematically promoted to leadership positions at the county, prefectural, and provincial levels for further training and experience.”