Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

Inside the conference room of the Jingzhou Municipal Government, the cool air conditioning dispelled the summer heat, but the atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the meeting progressed. At either end of the long conference table sat a delegation from the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and on the other side were relevant leaders from Handong Province and the city. Zhao Lichun, Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, sat at the head of the table, his face composed and his presence restrained. Liang Qunfeng, Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission and Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, sat to one side, his expression serious and his gaze sharp. Chen Yanshi, Vice Mayor of Jingzhou and Director of the Public Security Bureau, and Li Dakang, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, were also seated. Attendees included leaders from the Municipal Planning Commission, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the political and legal system, and key state-owned enterprises.

At the beginning of the symposium, Zhao Lichun spoke first, welcoming the research team on behalf of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee: "Comrades from the Central Committee, welcome to Handong to guide our work on state-owned enterprise reform. As an old industrial base, Handong faces heavy and difficult reform tasks, but we have always adhered to the guidance of the Central Committee, daring to explore and experiment, and striving to improve the well-being of our employees and promote economic development. We sincerely request the research team to offer valuable suggestions to help us identify problems and solve difficulties."

Subsequently, the leader of the research team briefly explained the purpose of their visit: "Our purpose in coming here is to conduct on-site research on the progress and difficulties of the reform of state-owned enterprises in Handong, summarize experiences, identify problems, and provide reference for the central government in formulating relevant policies. We hope that everyone will be realistic and speak freely so that we can fully understand the true situation."

The presentations proceeded in turn, with officials from the Municipal Planning Commission and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission reporting on the overall progress of the reforms, the difficulties in raising funds, and the progress of personnel resettlement. Their presentations were rigorous and their data detailed. Several state-owned enterprise leaders also shared their own experiences, reflecting on issues encountered during the reforms, such as market integration and technological upgrades, with a sincere attitude.

When it was Chen Yanshi's turn to speak, the atmosphere changed abruptly. He cleared his throat, straightened his back, and spoke with obvious boastfulness: "When it comes to state-owned enterprise reform, our Jingzhou Textile Factory's model is absolutely the benchmark! I personally spearheaded the initiative, implementing worker stock ownership, with the boss holding 51% and the workers 49%. This not only preserved the company but also made the employees shareholders—a win-win situation! Back when I was fighting alongside the organization, Secretary Zhao was still at the grassroots level..."

He launched into a long, rambling account of his "achievements," repeatedly mentioning "worker satisfaction" and "enterprise revitalization," even dredging up his revolutionary experiences and past relationship with Zhao Lichun, completely deviating from the topic of the discussion. Zhou Jin, sitting in the middle of the research group, frowned more and more deeply—Chen Yanshi's speech, though seemingly impressive, was evasive and avoided the most crucial issue of land reform, which Zhou Jin considered far from trivial.

When Chen Yanshi mentioned again, "Back then, Zhao Lichun was enjoying air conditioning while I was leading the reform on the front lines," Zhou Jin finally couldn't hold back any longer. She raised her hand to signal him, her tone calm but carrying an undeniable weight: "Mayor Chen, I apologize for interrupting you."

The meeting room fell silent instantly, all eyes fixed on Zhou Jin. Chen Yanshi's smug expression froze; he clearly hadn't expected this young cadre from the General Office of the Central Committee to interrupt him so directly. His tone was tinged with displeasure: "What advice does Comrade Zhou have?"

"I wouldn't call it guidance, but I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, and also discuss with everyone here." Zhou Jin leaned forward slightly, her gaze sharp as a knife. "You mentioned that the textile factory underwent restructuring and shareholding, with the owner holding 51% and the workers 49%. I'd like to ask, how did you allocate the land for the textile factory?"

Chen Yanshi paused for a moment, then casually replied, "The land follows the factory, so it naturally belongs to the restructured enterprise."

"That's where the problem lies." Zhou Jin's voice suddenly rose, her words sharp. "Strictly speaking, the land of state-owned enterprises belongs to the land allocated by the state, and its nature is state-owned assets. Now you are reforming state-owned enterprises into privately held companies, but you haven't clearly defined how the land will be disposed of—neither allowing the companies to buy back the land use rights, nor specifying that the land ownership still belongs to the state. Isn't this tantamount to handing over state land to private individuals without compensation?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over all the leaders present, and continued, "I'd also like to ask you all, did the restructuring of the factories in Handong not include a land disposal plan? If it's just a simple change in shareholding structure, ignoring land ownership, then it's essentially a loss of state-owned assets! The land may not seem valuable now, but with urban development and improved living standards, its value will inevitably increase significantly in the future. When the state needs to expropriate this land, will it have to pay a huge sum in compensation to private individuals?"

The meeting room was completely silent, save for Zhou Jin's clear and resonant voice: "The original intention of the reform was to revitalize enterprises and develop the economy, not to abandon national interests! Land is a fundamental national asset. Either we clearly state now that land ownership belongs to the state, and enterprises only have the right to use it, which will be reclaimed without compensation upon expiration; or we require the reformed enterprises to redeem their land use rights according to regulations, with the funds turned over to the national treasury. We must choose one of these two paths; there can be no ambiguity!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Jin added, "In addition, I require that after the restructuring is completed, Handong must submit two copies of the list of all factories participating in the restructuring, the specific restructuring plan, and the information of the responsible persons to the General Office of the Central Committee and the Provincial Planning Commission. Jingzhou City must also keep a complete archive. In particular, regarding the land disposal situation, it must be clearly marked which enterprises have redeemed their land use rights and which enterprises only have the right to use the land while the ownership still belongs to the state. Every document must be signed and confirmed by the responsible person, and a lifelong accountability system must be implemented!"

"Lifetime accountability?" someone repeated in a low voice, their tone tinged with surprise.

"That's right, lifelong accountability!" Zhou Jin said firmly. "If anyone engages in favoritism or fraud during the restructuring process, confiscates land purchase funds but fails to remit them, or arbitrarily transfers state-owned land to private individuals, then no matter how many years have passed, those responsible will be held accountable if any demolition disputes or loss of state-owned assets arise in the future!"

His gaze fell on Chen Yanshi, and he added pointedly, "The reason I emphasize this is to prevent future demolition disputes similar to those involving Dafeng Factory. As far as I know, Dafeng Factory, as a collective enterprise, is currently incapable of redeeming its land use rights. The unclear ownership of the land now will inevitably lead to huge disputes among employees, the company, and the government when urban planning involves demolition in the future. This will not only affect urban construction but also alienate the people!"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone present with varying expressions. Chen Yanshi's face flushed red; he wanted to retort but didn't know how to begin—he hadn't considered the details of land disposal, much less the possibility of lifelong accountability; he only thought about completing the restructuring as quickly as possible and showcasing his achievements. Zhao Lichun frowned, his fingers tapping heavily on the table, clearly pondering Zhou Jin's question, his eyes filled with seriousness. Li Dakang's eyes flashed with strong approval as he quickly jotted down keywords like "lifelong accountability system" and "early warning of Dafeng Factory demolition" in his notebook. Liang Qunfeng nodded slightly, his gaze towards Zhou Jin filled with admiration, clearly appreciating this meticulous approach of preventing problems before they arise.

The leader of the research team spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone calm: "Comrade Zhou Jin's questions are crucial, and her suggestions are highly practical. The reform of state-owned enterprises is not just about equity adjustments, but also about the standardized disposal of state-owned assets. The land issue must not be ambiguous. The lifelong accountability system and the file retention system are important measures to prevent risks and clarify responsibilities, and they are worth promoting and referencing nationwide."

Zhao Lichun immediately took over, his tone serious: "The research team leader is right. Comrade Zhou Jin's reminder is very timely and important! Mayor Chen, after this meeting, you must immediately lead a special task force to comprehensively review the land disposal situation of the city's state-owned enterprise reforms, ascertain the facts, plug any loopholes, and produce a rectification plan within three days; the Municipal Planning Commission is responsible for organizing the reform files, strictly implementing the dual reporting and retention system, ensuring that every document is signed and endorsed, and holding those responsible accountable for life!"

He looked at Zhou Jin and said sincerely, "Comrade Zhou, we are so grateful for your guidance today. Otherwise, the restructuring of Handong might have left behind serious hidden dangers. You are young and promising with a long-term vision. If there is anything we need to ask you about the follow-up of the restructuring of Handong, please do not hesitate to give us your advice."

Chen Yanshi's face flushed red and then turned pale. He could only bite the bullet and reply, "Yes, I will implement the rectification immediately."

Zhou Jin did not press further, but returned to his seat, his expression returning to calm. He knew that he had achieved his goal—not only had he pointed out the key loopholes in the reform, but he had also promoted the establishment of a preventative mechanism, thus safeguarding national interests and providing early warning of potential future social conflicts. This was precisely his duty as a cadre of the General Office of the Central Committee, and also a practice of his grandfather's teachings of "serving the country and the people, and upholding principles."

The symposium continued, but the atmosphere had changed. In subsequent remarks, everyone actively engaged in discussions on topics such as "protection of state-owned assets," "standardization of restructuring," and "implementation of responsibilities," their words becoming increasingly pragmatic. Zhou Jin occasionally asked follow-up questions, each one hitting the nail on the head, earning the admiration of everyone present for this young cadre from the General Office of the Central Committee.

After the meeting, Li Dakang specifically caught up with Zhou Jin and said admiringly, "Comrade Zhou, your proposals on the lifelong accountability system and land disposal plan are truly insightful. In particular, your foresight in predicting the demolition of Dafeng Factory is remarkable. We at the grassroots level really need this kind of rigorous thinking."

"Secretary Li, you flatter me," Zhou Jin replied modestly. "I was just analyzing based on economic principles and actual conditions. Grassroots reforms are complex, and taking extra precautions can help us avoid many detours."

Watching Zhou Jin's departing figure, Li Dakang gripped his notebook tightly, inwardly sighing: This young PhD from the General Office of the Central Committee not only possesses solid professional skills but also a patriotic heart and the courage to speak his mind; his future is undoubtedly bright. And thanks to this symposium, the restructuring work in Handong has embarked on a more standardized and stable path.