Abstract: Upon occupying the city, the Communist Party of China released the notice of registration for the “reactionary backbones” of the National Party. All regional branch members of the National Party fall into this category. Liao Xuechang had once been a regional branch member. Failing to turn himself in, he became a focal object of examination in the Campaign for Eliminating Counterrevolutionaries. However, until 1962, he remained largely safe from very severe attack due to his professional eminence, active confessions and self-transformation. In 1961, Liao was relegated to a lower position where he was caught in the Campaign for Rectification and Four Clean-ups. This time he was much less lucky. He was labeled as “bad element” and put under surveillance. He at first felt being mistreated, but gradually accepted his lot. In the following dozen of years, he worked steadfastly and conscientiously, and finally earned the trust of his co-workers and leaders. When he finally died on his post, those who had examined him came forward to ask for his release from surveillance and removal of his bad labels. They also called for treating his children “as people”.
Keywords:people, reactionary in the past, bad element, surveillance, label removal