May 26, 1986 153 pf sporuQm Beiiing's Vegetable Hydroponics Plant Checking ventilating ducts along the plant shelves. ^ ^ " jf^' S Technicians planting • » ^ V ^ f vegetable seedlings. More than 20 kinds of vegetables are planted in the multi-tiered planting structures in the greehhouse. "1* HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK VOL. 29. NO. 21 MAY 26. m(y The Return of Macao CONTENTS • The Chinese and Portuguese governments will soon begin NOTES FROM THE EDITORS 4 lo negotiate the return of Macao to the mainland — a Academic Debate Urges Progress settlement that will be conducive to the stability and development in the region, (p. 21). EVENTS/TRENDS 5-9 Scic?itists: Sail of The Harth Power Industry I-orccasts Boom 'Hundred Schools' Policy Promotes Science Canadian Leader Visits China China Seeks Scat on AOB Board • The conclusions of Qingdao Symposium on Genetics, held Labour. Wage Reform lo Develop in 1956 following the publication of the "hundred schools" In IX'pth policy formulated by the late Chairman Mao for developing science, indicates science can develop only when there is free INTERNATIONAL 10-14 and open discussion in academic circles (p. 15). In Notes From US-Pacific: While House Courts the Editors, Beijing Review cites examples to illustrate how Asia. Pacific important uninhibited discussion is to China's current reform r.thiopia-Sonialia: Confrontation and its science development (p. 4). 'I'urns to Consuittition Soviet L^nion: Nuclear Disaster Casts World Shadows Poet Recovers From Torment of the Past Angola: US Steps Up Military Aid To Rebels • An intriguing story about Chen Mingyuan, who was Lebanon: War-Torn Nation in branded a "counter-revolutionary" and was plunged into a Banking Crisis political hell during the "cultural revolution" after being charged by the gang of four with falsifying the late Chairman 'Hundred Schools^ Policy An Im• Mao's poems. His unjust case was redressed two years after the petus to Science Development 15 gang's downfall. Now he is much respected as a computer scientist as well as a poet (p. 18). Poet Recovers From Past Torment 18 Macao Faces Historical Cliange 21 Caring for Handicapped Ctilldren 24 jscientists and Technicians in Spotlight FROM THE CHINESE PRESS 26-27 • The recent national meeting to award outstanding BUSINESSARADE 28-29 scientific achievements gives credit to Chinese scientists for their great contributions to the nation's economic and social CULTURE/SCIENCE 30-31 development (p. 5). SPORTS 32-33 BOOKS 34 COVER: Scences From Shakespeare's Much Ado About William Shakespeare Dramas Staged in Beijing. • China's inaugural Shakespeare Festival held in Shanghai l>iioto by Li Chungeng and Beijing last month saw performances in the original-or adapted versions of 16 of the playwright's tragedies and comedies. Some adapted renditions were done in Beijing opera and other local operas by professional, as well as amateur troupes, both in Chinese and English, for adults and children (p. 30). ^MUM avwy Monday by DbUibuted by CNM I BBJING itEVIBV Trading CB I (GUOJI SHUOiAN), USA USSZUN 24 Boiwanzhuans Road, Btripng P.O. aox 399, Boeing, CWna ... KLSHm The PeopW's Republic of C3iina Con. $»jn NOTES FROM THE EDITORS Academic Debate Urges Progress by Dai Yannian ith Marxism-Leninism and "hundred schools" policy tapered Past experiences, both positive WMao Zedong Thought as its into a nominal existence. and negative, are good teachers. guideline, socialist China advo• Fortunately, all this has become Today more and more people in cates academic freedom under the history since 1978, when the Party China have come to understand guidance of the policy of "letting a set about correcting "Leftist" the value of the "hundred hundred schools of thought mistakes at the Third Plenary schools" policy. contend." Session of its llth Central To carry out the policy calls for This policy was inaugurated by Committee. a relaxed social environment, in the Party Central Committee and which people are allowed to Chairman Mao in 1956, when express different opinions and China, having just accomplished constantly break new ground. The socialist transformation of owner• right to disagree over academic ship of the means of production, issues should be guaranteed to was confronted with the formid• every academician whether he or able task of construction in ^^hina's sciences she is a state or Party leader or a various fields of endeavour, develop smoothly when the common reasearch worker, a science and culture included. In veteran expert or an inexperienced the academic world, it is only "hundred schools" policy green-horn. Both criticism and natural to see different schools of is in force, and suffers counter-criticism should be al• thought contend on a wide range when it is not. lowed, and while making criticic- of topics, and it simply won't work isms, one should reason things if one resorts to administrative out. All theories should be tested measures to advocate one school through practice and nobody of thought al the expense of the should resort to smothering ideas others. Such disputes can be that conflict with his or her own or settled only through free airing of Facts show that China's science to attaching political epithets to viewpoints. The "hundred develops smoothly when the those people who hold different schools" policy, designed to policy is in force and regresses opinions. promote the prosperity of science, when it is not. The well-known is in itself an embodiment of geologist Li Siguang, for example, Today, as the economic reforms socialist democracy in the confirmed that eastern China was are in full swing in China, a lot Of academic world. rich in oil reserves. His conclusion, research topics have been brought however, contradicted those of the before Chinas academicians, The Chinese government en• majority of Chinese and foreign topics that have an important courages academic freedom for geologists, who insisted China was bearing on the effort to build the great numbers of China's oil poor. Li's theory, however, was socialism with distinctive Chinese Marxist and non-Marxist protected; it was finally justified characteristics. Today, the fields scholars, believing that they can when China became an oil of philosophy, economics, culture make beneficial contributions to exporter. Economist Ma Yinchu and history are characterized by the nation. proposed in the early 1950s that spirited debates on a wide range of But over a long period, when the growth rate of China's issues. Some suggestions put "Leftism" held sway, things were population be controlled. His' forward by scholars, including the not what they should be. In those suggestions were unduly criticized practice of a planned commodity days, academic debates were often as "reactionary viewpoints of economy with market regulation mistaken for political issues or, Neo-Malthusianism." Later, playing a significant role, have worse still, manifestations of class however, when China instituted its already been adopted by the state struggle, and large numbers of family planning programme in the as basic policies. well-accomplished intellectuals 1970s as a result of its pressing There are no set patterns were branded "reactionary pun• population problem, Ma was around for China's reforms. To dits." The result was that different vindicated and his advice remem• pioneer new ground will mean opinions were muffled, and the bered as sound. breaking with traditional practices 4 BEIJING REVIEW, NO. 21 EVENTSARENDS Scientists: Salt of tlie Earth cientists were in the spotlight inventions as the Changzheng S as the convocation of the first (Long March) No. 3 carrier rocket national meeting to award out• and the dynamic optical satellite standing scientists and technolog• and missile abservation and ical advances was held in Beijing measuring devices. There were on May 16. also 135 first-class awards, 535 "The Chinese people are second-class ones and 1,068 ones and theories. Today, though capable and ambitious and we in the third class. All these projects China advocates creative research, should be proud of our scientists." were deemed capable of producing this is not an easy job. No one can said Premier Zhao Ziyang at the substantial economic benefits for guarantee that he is free from meeting. the country. While many projects errors when putting forward a new The meeting, attended by some have generated more than 1 theory. Mistakes, which somet• 1,400 scientists and technicians million yuan in profits a year, imes are inevitable, should be from around the country, presen• quite a few have produced more surmounted through academic ted awards to 1,761 major research than 10 million yuan or even 100 discussions. Of course, the projects and 185 inventions of million to 1 billion yuan annually. question of whether something 1985 and 115 key research "These projects have helped actually is wrong should first be achievements accomplished dur• save tremendous amount of the determined through discussion ing the Sixth Five-Ycar Plan nation's wealth," Zhao said. "But and the test of practice. We should (1981-85). unite people with erroneous points the Chinese people face a series of of view. These award-winning projects, more arduous and challenging selected from more than 20,000 tasks in the next five years and the There is no "forbidden zone" in applications, covered all areas Seventh Five-Year Plan has set academic research. Anything of the economy, from national de• still higher den[iands on our beneficial to the development of fence, electronics and communi• scientific and technological society, science and practical cations to environmental protec• work." Therefore, Zhao said, the needs is open for study. tion and agriculture. They includ• scientists should not content In opening to the outside world, ed 23 special awards for such themselves with making replicas China's academic research has attracted the attention of foreign Premier Zliao Ziyang and other state leaders presenting awards to prize-winning scientists and scholars.