Mao Zedong's handwriting
Comrade Xiaoping:
This document is very good and should be wholesale to all central bureaus and provincial, municipal and district party committees. According to this report, it will be resolutely implemented.
If one third of the 240,000 people in the central government has been reduced by one-third, that is, 80,000 people, and tens of thousands can be reduced, I want to reduce another 40,000 people, but I don’t know if it works? If a total of 120,000 people can be reduced by half of the total 240,000 people, work efficiency will definitely be greatly improved.
All provinces, cities, districts, districts, districts, and countys, all local three levels follow this plan and resolutely reduce bureaucracy, which will greatly reduce work efficiency across the country.
There is another reduction of 20 million workers. There are already regulations for the third-level personnel of the People's Commune. If it can be implemented resolutely and properly, the serious problem of a person being in trouble can be solved.
Please do the above.
Mao Zedong
June 22
Comrade Mao Zedong made important instructions when reviewing the "Report on the Situation of Central State Organs and Future Opinions of Central State Organs" on June 22, 1961, and clearly required the report to be approved by the Central Bureau and the Party Committees of the Provincial, Municipal and District, emphasizing that "the report must be implemented resolutely." The instructions not only reflect the full affirmation of the streamlining work of state organs at that time, but also put forward specific goals and overall arrangements for further deepening the streamlining work, reflecting the firm determination of the Party Central Committee to correct deviations and restore the economy through decisive measures during economic difficulties. This document is a key material for studying the national economic adjustment policy in the early 1960s, and is also an important historical witness to understanding the Communist Party of China to promote the self-improvement of the system under complex circumstances.
When the instructions were written, it was in the late stage of the "Great Leap Forward" movement. Due to problems such as being out of reality and eager to achieve success in the implementation of the previous policy, the national economy encountered serious difficulties. A series of contradictions such as agricultural production cuts, industrial imbalances, fiscal tensions, and material shortages have emerged in a concentrated manner, and the country's development is facing tremendous pressure. In 1960, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed the eight-character policy of "adjustment, consolidation, enrichment and improvement", trying to reverse the dilemma and rebuild the economic order. Against this background, "simplifying military and streamlining administration" has become a key measure to alleviate fiscal burden, improve management efficiency, and overcome bureaucracy. In his instructions, Mao Zedong clearly stated that the central government should reduce 120,000 people from 240,000, that is, reduce it by half, believing that this move will significantly improve work efficiency. He also further demanded that the streamlining policies be promoted to local governments at the provincial, district and county levels to form a top-down systematic reform.
The streamlining goal mentioned in the instruction is not an isolated action, but a comprehensive policy that is consistent with the overall economic adjustment of the country. During the same period, large-scale streamlining of enterprise employees and compression of people's commune management personnel were also carried out nationwide. At the end of the instruction, Mao Zedong specifically pointed out that if the streamlining work of "workers reduced by 20 million" and "three-level personnel of the people's commune" can be implemented resolutely and properly, it will effectively solve the "serious problem of people being overdoing things." This shows that the Party Central Committee was clearly aware of the inefficiency and waste of resources caused by bloated institutions and excessive management levels, and was trying to restore the vitality of the administrative system through structural reform.
Mao Zedong showed clear quantitative goals and strong will to execute in his instructions. He not only affirmed the streamlining achievements that have been achieved - the central government has reduced 80,000 employees, but also put forward higher requirements for "reducing another 40,000", demonstrating the continuous deepening and self-pressure in the promotion of policies. This data-based and goal-oriented instruction style reflects the scientific decision-making spirit and the principle of seeking truth from facts that the Communist Party of China has always advocated. Although it was in a difficult period at that time, the Party and the government were still committed to improving governance capabilities through institutional reforms, so as to better respond to the actual needs of social and economic development.
The instructions also reflect Mao Zedong and the Party Central Committee's high vigilance against bureaucracy. The instructions clearly state that resolutely streamlining local three-level institutions will "greatly reduce bureaucracy across the country" and improve work efficiency. It can be seen that at that time, the senior party leaders realized that excessive expansion of management institutions not only increased the financial burden, but also led to governance risks such as separation from the masses, slow response, and decreased administrative efficiency. Therefore, streamlining work is both an economic measure and a self-optimization of the political and management system.
From the historical effect, the streamlining policy in the early 1960s achieved the expected goals to a certain extent. By significantly reducing the size of staff in government agencies, enterprises and institutions, the country has effectively reduced fiscal pressure, optimized resource allocation, and laid the foundation for subsequent economic recovery. At the same time, the improvement of the efficiency and clear responsibilities of the administrative system have also created better conditions for policy implementation. This instruction and its streamlining movement under its guidance have become an important example of the strategic adjustment ability and institutional resilience shown by the Communist Party of China in major and difficult times.
Looking back at this history, Mao Zedong's instructions on streamlining state organs not only had practical guiding significance at that time, but also provided a historical reference for today's administrative system reform and governance modernization. The spirit of courage to innovate, paying attention to effectiveness, and opposing bureaucracy it reflects is still of inspirational significance for strengthening party building and optimizing government functions. The value of this document is not only to record a specific policy introduction process, but also reflects that the Communist Party of China always adheres to the people-centered, seeking truth from facts, and keeping pace with the times when facing challenges.
