CONFIDENTIAL
123471
MDHIAN 57
TALK OF MULTI-PARTY COOPERATION: PROMISES THAT A PLAN ON MULTI- PARTY COOPERATION WOULD BE READY FOR JUNE OR JULY AND THAT NON-CCP MEMBERS WOULD BE APPOINTED TO KEY APPOINTMENTS: AND THE ACTUAL APPOINTMENT OF TWO DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS TO VICE- MINISTERIAL POSITIONS (LABOUR AND AGRICULTURE) JUST BEFORE THE SESSION. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL TO THREE. NEW LAWS ON SUPERVISION AND DEMONSTRATIONS WERE MOOTED IN ADDITION TO THE PRESS LAW ALREADY IN DRAFT. POLITICAL REFORM REMAINS AN OBJECTIVE BUT THE LINE NOW IS THAT PROGRESS MUST NOT BE TOO QUICK AND STABILITY NOT ENDANGERED. LI PENG SAID AT HIS CLOSING CONFERENCE THAT CHINA WOULD NOT SLAVISHLY FOLLOW THE SOVIET OR ANY OTHER MODEL FROM ABROAD.
3. THE MOST INTERESTING ASPECT OF THE WHOLE SESSION WAS THE OPEN AND DIRECT CRITICISMS MADE BY DEPUTIES OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND OF THE PREMIER IN PERSON, DESPITE ATTEMPTS AT RESTRAINT. LI PENG OPENED THE WAY FOR THESE WITH HIS SELF- CRITICISM ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT IN HIS WORK REPORT. THE SHARPEST ATTACKS WERE RESERVED FOR THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT WORK RATHER THAN RESULTS. SOME DEPUTIES COMPLAINED THAT DECISIONS MADE AT THE LAST N P C TO STABILIZE THE ECONOMY HAD BEEN IGNORED AND THE ECONOMY ALLOWED TO GET OUT OF CONTROL. OTHERS POINTED TO UNSCIENTIFIC AND UNDEMOCRATIC STYLES OF GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKING AND IMPATIENCE FOR QUICK RESULTS. ONE SAID THAT LI PENG SHOULD HAVE SPECIFIED THE REASONS FOR MISTAKES IN HIS WORK REPORT AND ADDED THAT IN FUTURE INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD BE MADE SO THAT RELEVANT LEADERS COULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE. ANOTHER PROPOSED THAT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BE MADE TO FACE A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE BY THE N P C AND BE MADE TO RESIGN IF THEY DO NOT
RECEIVE 50 PER CENT APPROVAL.
4. THESE CRITICISMS LED SOME DEPUTIES TO ASK WHY THE N P C STANDING COMMITTEE HAD FAILED TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CARRY OUT POLICIES PROPERLY. WAN LI, CHAIRMAN OF THE N P C STANDING COMMITTEE AND A SENIOR POLITBURO MEMBER, WAS FORCED TO ADMIT NEGLIGENCE. 30 DEPUTIES SUBMITTED A LETTER TO THE PRESIDIUM OF THE N P C MAKING SIMILAR POINTS. ONE DEPUTY WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE ROLE OF THE N P C STANDING COMMITTEE SHOULD NOT BE TO PROVIDE HONORARY POSTS BUT SHOULD BE A PROPER WORKING ORGAN WITH YOUNGER MEMBERS. THERE WERE CALLS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUPERVISORY ORGAN BY THE N P C TO OVERSEE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES, AND FOR THE STATE COUNCIL TO BE OBLIGED TO REPORT REGULARLY ON THIS TO THE STANDING COMMITTEE.
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