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6. JUST AS THE PERSONNEL CHANGES REFLECTED THE OUTCOME OF THE
14TH PARTY CONGRESS SO DID THE POLICY AND DEBATE. IN KEEPING WITH THE PARTY'S 'ONE CENTRAL TASK'' (IE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT), THE ECONOMY WAS THE DOMINANT THEME (DETAILS IN MY TELNO 468). DENG XIAOPING'S SOCIALIST MARKET ECONOMY WAS WRITTEN INTO THE CONSTITUTION, REPLACING THE TERM ''PLANNED ECONOMY''. NEEDLESS TO SAY ECONOMIC FREEDOM WAS NOT EXTENDED TO THE POLITICAL SPHERE, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN FIRMLY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PARTY AND THE GUIDANCE OF MARXISM · LENINISM MAO ZEDONG THOUGHT. AGRICULTURAL ISSUES WERE A HIGH PRIORITY FOR MANY DELEGATES, IN PARTICULAR THE EXCESSIVE AND OFTEN ILLEGAL LOCAL CHARGES BEING LEVIED ON FARMERS AND THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES' PROPENSITY TO PAY FOR PRODUCE WITH CREDIT-NOTES RATHER THAN CASH. THESE WERE HIGHLIGHTED
AS A POTENTIAL CAUSE OF POLITICAL INSTABILITY. THE SPEECHES BY LEADERS AND REPORTS OF THE DISCUSSION GROUPS COVERED MOST AREAS OF THE ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAMME INCLUDING MONETARY POLICY, CREDIT CONTROL, ENTERPRISE REFORM, AND SHARE-HOLDING. LITTLE APPARENT ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF ECONOMIC OVERHEATING, THOUGH ZHU RONGJI WARNED AGAINST EXCESSIVE GROWTH IN SOME SECTORS. THE WIDELY DIFFERING PACE OF REFORM IN CHINA'S PROVINCES AND AUTONOMOUS REGIONS WAS NOTED, BUT THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION OF THE SOCIAL PROBLEMS WHICH ARE BEGINNING TO EMERGE AS A RESULT OF THE DISPARITIES OF WEALTH IN CHINA.
THE ENDEMIC PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION WAS ANOTHER TOPIC WHICH FEATURED PROMINENTLY. DELEGATES' DISSATISFACTION WAS SHOWN BY THE VOTING FIGURES ON THE REPORT ON THE PROCURATORATE WHICH IS CHARGED WITH INVESTIGATING CORRUPTION CASES: THIS RECEIVED 625 NO VOTES OR ABSENTIONS (OUT OF 2,800 PLUS), THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF DISAPPROVAL FOR THE ENTIRE NPC SESSION.
BUT BY
8.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS WERE GIVEN LITTLE ATTENTION BUT HONG KONG LOOMED LARGE. THE LEADERSHIP DECIDED TO BEAT THE NATIONALISTIC DRUM QUITE LOUDLY, FOLLOWING THE FAILURE OF OUR TALKS ABOUT TALKS'' AND THE GAZETTING OF THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. THE OFFICIAL MEDIA GAVE PROMINENCE TO THE STRONG STATEMENTS WHICH LEADERS AND DELEGATES MADE ON THE SUBJECT. THE LATER STAGES OF THE SESSION THERE SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN AN INSTRUCTION TO COOL THE TEMPERATURE, AND THERE WAS NO DRAMATISATION OF THE DECISION TO SET UP A PREPARATORY WORKING BODY FOR THE FUTURE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION PREPARATORY COMMITTEE (WHEN THE NPC STANDING COMMITTEE SEES FIT): MOST OPTIONS WERE KEPT OPEN.
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