ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WE ARE SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE1
AUGUST 16, 1988
[Bao] Youde,
This has finally been accomplished, which is a good thing. But what was originally a fine thing dragged on for over a year. All of this took place in Shanghai, but nobody tried to figure things out so no one knew whom to turn to. The people could only “place their hopes in the mayor” while the Taxation Bureau did not do the least bit of self-criticism. I hope you will take a half hour to listen to President Yu Chunshan’s comments—you might gain some insights. The fiscal and tax departments have a lot of power and should always remember that we are servants of the people.
Zhu Rongji
August 16
Note to Bao Youde, August 16, 1988.
1. On May 23, 1988, President Yu Chunshan of the Shanghai School of Fine Arts wrote to Zhu Rongji saying that in April 1987 a veteran artist at that school had donated 40 works to be sold and the proceeds to be used to establish a scholarship. A tax exemption had been requested, but the departments concerned procrastinated for over a year before responding. On June 9, Zhu Rongji issued a directive to Bao Youde, director of the Shanghai Bureau of Finance, asking that he and the departments concerned deal with this matter and report on the outcome. In August, the Shanghai Taxation Bureau made appropriate arrangements. This is part of the directive Zhu Rongji then sent to Bao Youde.