The forthcoming sixth plenum of the party Central Committee will recommend that social control mechanisms be boosted to ensure political stability. Party sources said yesterday that while personnel issues would not be on the agenda, the plenum would consolidate the position of President Jiang Zemin as a theoretician on the same level as Mao Zedong or Deng Xiaoping . Sources said political control would be an integral part of the party's drive to boost 'spiritual civilisation', the official theme of the conclave. 'The party will spell out ways to boost law and order enforcement and social control in general,' a source said. He added that apart from approving the indefinite continuation of the 'Strike Hard' campaign against crime, the plenum would consider policies to control the influx of migrant labourers into cities and the nation's nascent wild-cat trade union movement. 'Ways and means will be found to minimise social contradictions,' the source added. 'They include fighting corruption; narrowing the income gap between rich and poor through means including stricter tax collection; and ensuring police will enforce the law in a 'civilised' manner.' Provincial and municipal authorities will be given clear-cut targets in areas including fighting graft and crime. The document on building up spiritual civilisation to be passed by the plenum will also endorse 'socialist morality' and Mr Jiang's slogan of 'talking more about politics'. A member of an official think tank involved in drafting the document pointed out yesterday that by 'putting more emphasis on politics' Mr Jiang meant promoting the party's hold on power through minimising social contradictions. 'Jiang favours the 'comprehensive management' of social order,' he said. 'This means that apart from the police and paramilitary police, units including financial and taxation departments as well as neighbourhood committees will be involved in tackling the sources of social instability.' The think tank member said Mr Jiang had great expectations that his contribution to spiritual civilisation would earn him an exalted place in the party pantheon. The plenum, which will also be attended by party elders and senior military representatives, is expected to take place at the end of the month.
