OBSERVATIONS OF A VISITOR TO MEIHSIEN, KWANGTUNG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005300210008-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 18, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 1, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300210008-5
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
Ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Observations of a Visitor to
Meihsien, Kwangtung
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 9 November 195+
NO. OF PAGES 2 25X1
REQUIREMENT NO. RD 25X1
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAI$AL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
4.
There were many Russians in Meihsien. They travelled by motorcycle.. The.
neighbors reported that the Russians came to establish a hospital. The con-
struction of the Huang Tang (7806/1048) hospital, which was very large, had
been completed. A new theater and a public park bad been constructed also,
both of which had been named after the people. Roads had been paved with asphalt.
5. Not far from Meihsien, but far from the old airfield which was left unused, a
new airfield was being built. All the unemployed had gone to work on these con-
structions. They were receiving pay at 10,000 yuan a day, but were paying for
their own food.
6. The farmer's living was very good because there was plenty of land but few far-
mers. At the time of the "liberation" many people were away, also large quanti-
ties of valuables were confiscated from overseas Chinese landlords and distributed
XI
FBI
_j
Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300210008-5
 Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300210008-5
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
to the farmers. Every family of poor tenants and farmers bad been allocated
one cow. Also, the past year's harvest had been a good one. Despite
heavier taxes, the farmers were making a better living by owning their own
land.
7. There were no food restrictions in Meihsien. The 92 rice was sold a little
cheaper than white rice, 92 rice selling for 100,550 yuan as compared with
white rice at 120,000 yuan per ton. The oil sold at the co-operatives or
food stores was not pure groundnut oil. Those who could affortd to, pressed
their own groundnut oil. The visitors mother, having frequent remittances
from her sons, was able to do so and had made more than 100 catties of oil.
Most of the farmers raised livestock except in cases where food was needed
for human consumption. Young pigs could be borrowed from the Farmers' Union.
8. At first, the land owned by a daughter was used as her dowry. Later this
practice was discontinued when difficulties developed becauoe the people
were living away from the land. It became the rule that the land would be
given to the daughter's parents upon her marriage. If the husband was too
poor to support the wife, a certain percentage of the crop would be given to
the married daughter, the percentage to be assessed by the Farmers' Union.
9. Very few Chinese merchants, having businesses overseas, returned to Meihsien
and the majority of people who returned were students. In 1953 a new school,
the Overseas Chinese High School, was built to accommodate returned students, 25X1
but beginning with the spring of 1954, local children were also admitted.
There were many junior and senior middle schools in the hsien. All children
above seven years of age were required to attend schools. 25X1
10. There had been military personnel in the village
but since the villagers believed that peace was
prevailing throughout the world there was no need for guards. There were
no guerrillas in the vicinity.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/07/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005300210008-5