RESIDENTS COMMITTEES IN SHANGHAI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003400080001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 27, 2009
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 22, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/01/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003400080001-5
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT Residents' Committees in Shanghai
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the V.B. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 22 January 19514
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD 25X1
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Shanghai is divided into nine districts for the purpose of civil adminis-
tration and public security. Under each of these nine district governments25X1
are residents' committees, roughly one committee for every neighborhood.
A neighborhood consists of from five to twenty families depending on the
layout of the streets in any given area. Each residents' committee1 has
several sections, including the following:
a. A protective section. This is generally regarded as the eyes and ears of
the Public Security Department. It maintains records of the persons living
in the neighborhood in which it functions, including their associates,
social status, places of employment and any experiences of special sig-
:.ficance. It has no investigative arm of its own but many refer matters
rewiring investigation to the police. The census police often.carry
out investigations on behalf of the protective section and consult in
turn with the protective section on happenings within the neighborhood
under its jurisdiction. The protective section consists of a chief, two
deputy chiefs and ten .members o All are residents of the neighborhood
they control and most are from workers families.
b. A health section. This section carries out monthly inspections of
residences in its neighborhood to insure that certain standards of cie&rt-
liness are being observed and is -re..aponsible for.. general neighborhood
sanitation.
c. A cultural amusements section. It provides recreational facilities
such as table tennis, books, magazines and sponsors organized games.
Expenses for this section are shared by the residents served by it.
d. A treasury section.
I I AEC
STATE x ARMY x NAVY x AIR _x FBI
(Note: Washington Distribution Indicated By "X"; Field Distribution By
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e. A'newspaper reading section. It maintains newspaper files for the read-
ing public. For those that cannot read, a group reading session is held
each day during which newspapers are read aloud. Discussions are held for
about one hour each day during which such subjects as capitalistic ex-
ploitation, advanced Soviet methods, development of new democracies and
any special campaigns in progress are discussed. Attendance at these
newspaper reading and discussion sessions is obligatory for the unemployed
and housewives. Persons employed in shops and factories have separate
reading and discussion groups at their place of work.
f. A reconciliation section. This section investigates quarrels among
residents of the neighborhood and attempts to settle these without recourse
to law. Should such disputes reach the courts, however, this section
counsels the court in the case.
1. During the Korean war, a special Anti-America Aid Korea section was estab-
lished to propagandize the role of the "Peoples Volunteers" and collect
subscriptions for them.
2. The census police are charged with registering all persons living in the
area of their jurisdiction and recording changes of residence into or out
of their area.
Approved For Release 2009/01/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003400080001-5