The Report on Party Affairs to the Thirteenth Party Congress by Lee Huan (Abridged)

Mr. Chairman, Senior Members, Delegates, Honorable Guests, and Members:

It has been seven years since the party held its 12th National Congress. The key single incident during this period was the unfortunate passing away of Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo on January 13 this year. The depth of sorrow and grievance felt by all party members and compatriots over this national tragedy and the loss of our party leader is unforgettable even now.

Since the convening of the KMT's 12th National Congress, sound leadership of our party and the efforts of all members have resulted in notable development and achievements in party work. But in making a frank and open-minded examination, it cannot be denied that we still have a number of shortcomings which are in dire need of correction and improvement.

1. The Three Principles of the People pursued by our party places great stress on the traditional culture of the Chinese people, and holds the ethical spirit passed down to us over thousands of years in high regard. However, in recent years, extravagant trends which have accompanied economic prosperity, the spread of utilitarianism, and the pursuit of material pleasures have resulted in the pernicious phenomenon of violence and murders in our society, and an increasingly serious incidence of juvenile delinquency. How shall we guide our members in the government to fulfill their responsibility of educating the public, of stressing the tempering of virtue and goodness? This is indeed a responsibility that must not be shirked.

2. The lifting of the Emergency Decree is a goal of constitutional democracy which the Kuomintang has been hoping to achieve in its constant struggle over the past several decades. Unfortunately, however, there are people who have maliciously taken advantage of this time of social transition for their own selfish purposes. It is necessary for us to realize that implementing democracy must go hand in hand with abiding by the rule of law; the two are complementary. The Kuomintang and the government must extend the spirit of rule of law, firmly establish the authority of the law, and provide a guarantee of security to the people.

3. The KMT's organization has always been firmly planted in the grassroots level, because party members meet and function at the grassroots level, the same level on which the general public interacts with the party. At present, because of changes in the structure of society, and the mutual divergence of lifestyles and value concepts, the connection between party members and the party organization is steadily loosening. In view of these phenomena, we cannot simply blame our party members of lacking party consciousness. What we must do is to look into the organizational state and work methods of our party.

4. Party cadres are the backbone of the organization. The quality, state of mind, and working style of party cadres are inevitably tied to the success or failure of the party. Because of many years of a stable social environment and many years in the role of ruling party, a trend of "party bureaucratization" was inevitably formed. From now on, we must choose cadres from among the general public, and evaluate cadres on the basis of their actual service work, correct misconceptions on the part of cadres, and set cadres with incorrect attitudes straight. Party cadres must always keep the interests of the people in mind, and uphold the concept that "we lose everything if we lose the people."

5. The party's current task is an immense one. Particularly in recent years, the party has suffered unprecedented defamation, slander, and attack. So starting from the present, the party should expand the channels for participation and communication, so that party members and cadres have ample opportunity to express their opinions.

A view of the current political situation reveals ever-changing and treacherous trends and widespread military conflict. The antagonism between the two extremes of freedom and slavery as well as of democracy and totalitarianism has never let up in the least. However, because the democratic countries have the upper hand politically and economically, they have won over the high admiration and aspirations of the people living in communist countries. Our national policy is to remain steadfastly in the democratic camp, enhance links and exchanges with friendly countries of the world, actively participate in international activities, and vigorously seek out opportunities to re-enter the international community through a comprehensive diplomatic program, so that the rest of world can better grasp and understand our resolute stand and goal of struggling for freedom and democracy.

In order to realize the ideals of democracy pursued by our party President Sun Yat-sen, our Director General Chiang Kai-shek, and late Chairman Chiang Ching-kuo, the government resolutely promulgated the lifting of the Emergency Decree activating martial law in the Taiwan area on July 15, 1987. Following on the heels of the lifting of the Emergency Decree, the government drafted the "National Security Law" and the "Law on Assembly and Parades" to protect the security of society and revised the "Law on the Organization of Civic Groups during the Extraordinary Period," opening up the freedom to organize political parties. It also opened up registrations for new newspapers. The party agreed to allow ROC residents to go to the Chinese mainland to visit relatives and passed programs for replenishing representatives to the National Assembly, the Legislative Yuan, and the Control Yuan and one for the legal systemization of local government, and so forth. Each and every one of these measures attests to the resolution to implement constitutional democracy.

The preparatory work for this congress was conducted upon the directives of Acting Chairman Lee Teng-hui and the careful study and planning of each member of the Central Standing Committee. Reports will now be presented in three areas:

The first portion is to help all members in attendance folly understand the nation's and party's current situations, and a report on the achievements of party work since the 12th National Congress.

The second portion will be comprised of discussion on the five major proposals. Each proposal has already been studied over several times. Detailed critical remarks were then added after a careful review by the concerned ad hoc committee led by members of the Central Standing Committee.

The third portion is comprised of selecting our party chairman, appointing Central Advisory Council members and electing the Central Committee members for the coming term.

This historically significant National Congress is the first to be held after the lifting of the Emergency Decree in the Taiwan area. In it we will reset the pace of progress of the party, and pursue an ideal government of even greater democracy and freedom. Let us all, under the leadership of our party chairman, unite to be of one heart, continue our struggle without letting up, to carry out the final exhortations of late Chairman Chiang, and accomplish our historical mission to recover the mainland and reconstruct our nation.

[Picture Caption]

Secretary-General Lee Huan delivered the report on party affairs. (photo by Lin Cheng-chun)