PARTY congress delegates said the political report by Jiang Zemin at the opening of the gathering had given 'legitimate' status to non-public ownership. The report had 'shocked' many delegates but also served as an assurance to entrepreneurs on development of the private sector. Party secretary of Hunan province, Wang Maolin, said a group of private entrepreneurs had discussed possible policy changes regarding private enterprises with him before he left for the congress. 'Mr Jiang noted in his report that non-public economic activities would not only be just a supplement of the socialist economy but would become an important component which would serve important purposes,' Mr Wang said. Once these two important factors were put forward, they would boost people's confidence on development of private business, Mr Wang said. Another delegate said: 'It is also a liberation of thought that the party suggests the non-public economy could develop in diversified forms.' Party secretary of Hubei province, Jia Zhijie, said Mr Jiang's report confirmed the public ownership system as the main stake of the economy but also overrode stigmas that public ownership had to exist in extremely pure forms. He said there were public elements even in the private sector. Mr Jiang's report received enthusiastic support from private entrepreneurs. Li Jing from Hunan spent 12,000 yuan (HK$11,208) to sponsor a song to be broadcast on television at the start of the congress.
