Notice on Strengthening Party, Group Members’ and Cadres’ Connections to Chinese Internationals

In the present redoubling of efforts to strengthen the united front of Chinese internationals, there is great political significance attached to enabling intimate contact between Chinese international and the fatherland, which will make them more caring and solicitous to the fatherland, and will also attract investment so those of our countrymen living abroad can participate in China’s economic construction. Since the Liberation, as China’s international standing has grown, the patriotism of internationals living abroad has grown immensely. They have striven to alter and cast off imperialism and the hateful and insulting oppression among the leaders in their place of residence. They have had urgent need of the fatherland’s protective love and its compassion, but because of their remoteness from the fatherland, they misunderstand the policies of the fatherland and the party, particularly with regard to the party’s general line. Under the enemy’s spread of slanderous rumors and its policy of deceitfully driving a wedge between us, and no thanks to several of our party officials and cadres showing certain weaknesses in the implementation of policy, several locations have given rise to absolutely unacceptable intrusions into remittance payments. This has been done in order to make Chinese internationals feel that their remittance is not secure. A few Chinese international-related personnel have taken an indifferent and passive attitude, sometimes even refusing to correspond at all—it is worth noting that after the announcement of the general line, there was the mistaken impression that connections with overseas Chinese had taken on social “complexity” that would impact their class standing. Thus the suspicion among Chinese internationals toward the fatherland grew still deeper.

Last year’s remittance showed decline; this deserves our serious attention. The zealous effort to secure Chinese internationals’ investment in the fatherland is not to be taken lightly. Since Liberation, our remittance earnings from every nation have been about equal to half of our foreign exchange earnings from imperialist states. And yet there is one area, eastern Guangdong, were last year’s remittance earnings were equal in size to about 20 times the foreign exchange of Chaoshan mandarin oranges. Politically speaking, there are about 7 million emigrants from Guangdong living abroad, in addition to their 6 million family members. This number is about one fifth of the entire population of the province. They are now the main target of our efforts. Therefore we must complete the following points:

1- In order to attract immigrants’ zealous participation in socialist economic construction, we should direct our effort overseas to unite Chinese internationals. Everyone with Chinese international family or friends should, without divulging government secrets or endangering the individual’s safety, convey more information, announcing the new atmosphere in the Chinese internationals’ hometown and the fatherland’s construction situation, using these and other specific facts to broadcast the party’s Chinese international policy. During these announcements, make sure to personify them; instructional-style announcements should be strictly avoided. The best and most appropriate means is to take advantage of communication and greeting-type interactions. This will increase the usefulness and simplicity of the exercise.

2- All party members and personnel with personal connections to Chinese international matters must pay greater mind to broadcasting the remittance policy as they pursue their work. They should also make this situation known more often to the party and the government, and struggle determinedly against the violations of the remittance policy, devoting the efforts of their position to mobilizing Chinese internationals to invest in industry and agriculture. These should be held as the party’s orders and dispatched accordingly. The party organization to which one is affiliated should be frequently notified. The Chinese Expatriate Affairs branch will give explicit instructions for the united front struggle.

3- If party member or official has received remittance—if, for example, remittance is mailed to an individual—it should be accepted and announced to his organization. This money can be used as a stipend for the individuals living expenses; excess amounts can be put in the Chinese bank or used to buy government bonds. But it shall not be used for private business operations or other violations of party discipline and state laws. If it is money entrusted to an individual by a Chinese international or entrusted for a public welfare undertaking, these desires should be referred to the appropriate divisions for a decision. Before any transaction, the money should be placed in a Chinese bank.