ELIMINATION OF AGED CIVIL SERVANTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000300460005-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 7, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 6, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
INFORMATION REPORT CD NO. 25X1A
COUNTRY China
SUBJECT Elimination of Aged Civil ,Servants
25X1
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE DISTR. 4 October 53
NO. OF PAGES 2
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
TMIi DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFOPMAT ION AFFECTI NO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANIND OF TITLE 1S, SECTIONS 7S3
-._ ... .. .... .. .. [nn[. Ai \MEN O E D. ITS TPAN SNIS$IDNOP 'E_
25X1X
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1. The Comic iet Government of Kwangtung,Province at Canton adopted divergent standards in
its issuance of travel permits to applicants desirous of visiting Macao and Hongkong.
Although few questions were asked of student applicants and although there were almost
no known cases of denial of permits, considerable care was exercised to make sure of
their return to Canton at the end of three or four weeks.. As regards applicants over
50 years of age, the government's attitude seemed to be entirely different. Any excuse
was accepted aid no concern was expressed as to when they would return to Canton.
2. All old people were given their permits almost with a smile, especially people with
records of long years of service in the Chinese postal system or the Chinese salt
gabelle. Their resignation was invariably accepted to create vacancies for younger
.people. Among the hundreds of such old civil servants who left China for good in late
July 1953 was one who had served in the Chinese postal service for over 40 years.
3. He would have been retired 25X1 X
on pension under the oid regime, tho e EEL never a member of the K. As
a career man in the postal service, he had received steady promotions and many trans-
fers, occupying the position of postmaster in seven provinces including: Kwangtung,
Hunan,, Szechuen, Kwangsi, and Kiangsi. When the Communists took over in the winter
of 1949-50, he could not be,-fired because of his long record of loyal service and the
tes
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.
na
or
great esteem with which he was rated by his su
post and carry on as usual in Kiangsi. 25X1
" hi
"
s
stand by
4. He was ordered to
he was summoned to party headquarters in Nanchang and was told that now he was one of
the bosses of the new China - he was one of the people, and the People's Government
belonged to the people., everyone of them except the reactionaries and counter-revolu-
tionaries. Therefore, he was one of the owners of the postal system and not just an
2 5X1 employee. Now that the people's money was running low, there had to be a cut in his
pay to balance the` people's budget.
5. postal volume declined steadily, though government mail
was noticeably. increased. To the common people letterwriting was both a ~.uxury and
a risk. As postal 'receipts had di.x^o ed to about 40% of the 191+9 level, he had re-
Meanwhile, party members
25X1 ceived six salary cuts between
were given promotions and several salary increases. As he found it impossible to
keep himself alive with his small salary, he asked for a transfer back to Canton,
his native district, where he might be able to live with old friends His request
was granted in March 1953 without much delay.
CLASSIFICATION CONFID 25X1
DISTRIBUTION
693:, LAST 7' Ar'?~~? .k .' ~+T-^ ?r 4n: ~a a [.'.wr 'N ?N: r.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Approved For Release 2004/03/11: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300460005-2
 Approved For Release 2004/03/11: CIA-RDP82-00047R00030046000?i-2
CONFIDENTIAL/
25X1A
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6. Back in Canton, he retained his old rank as postmaster of a first-class office but
found the inequality of remuneration between old civil service men and party youngsters
even more glaring' and-his subordinates. even more defiant. He realized his days were
over in mainland China and his resignation was accepted. His application for a permit
to leave for Hongkong was granted on condition of his solemn written promise not to talk
against the People's Goverrnnent.
7. He arrived in Hongkong in early August 1953 and has remained quiet except when with his
closest relatives..
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L1 ' '~JY SUBJECT & AP 177A
/103.91 i L1~2
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CONFIDENTIAL)
25X1
Approved For Release 2004/03/11: CIA-RDP82-00047R000300460005-2