Mao elected China chairman under new constitution

HT's report on Mao's election as chairman, which was unanimous and by a secret ballot

- Agencies

Mr Mao Tse-tung was on September 27 elected Chairman of the People's Republic of China by the National People's Congress, Peking Radio announced.

He was earlier Chairman of the Central People’s Government Council. His new position was created by China's new Constitution. “Mr Mao's election was greeted by thunderous applause,” Peking Radio said.

The applause was broadcast too, and shouts of “wansui” (10,000 years) could be heard echoing through the Hall of Benevolence where the National People's Congress is in session. His elevation comes days after he appealed to the nation to “work harder, be honest and modest, earnest and industrious,” to build China into a great industrial country.

“The people of our country should work hard and do their best to learn from the experience of the Soviet Union and of other brother countries. They should be prepared, in the course of several five-year plans, to build our country, at present economically and culturally backward, into a great industrialised country with a high standing of modern culture,” he said during his address to the congress.