Since a circular issued recently by the CPC Shanghai Committee, all Party members in the city are required to address each other as "comrade" instead of by their official titles.

"This is a fine tradition of our Party," said Chen Liangyu, the Shanghai Party secretary. "It helps to create a democratic atmosphere within the Party and is instrumental in strengthening the relationship between officials and the rank and file.

"I'm the Party secretary of the city, but I want you all to call me comrade," Chen told people attending a recent Party meeting.

"By doing this, I aim to put myself under the direct supervision of all Party members in Shanghai."

The term "comrade" was first introduced into China by Dr Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), a forerunner of the Chinese Democratic Revolution, who founded a revolutionary organization, "Xing Zhong Hui League," in the early 1900s.

When the Communist Party of China was founded in Shanghai in 1921, the term was adopted as a special term for its members to address each other.

After the founding of New China in 1949, ordinary people in the country also began to use "comrade" to address each other and during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) it became almost the only term of addressing that could be used in any public place.

The use of "comrade," however, lost its popularity in recent decades as China began its drive to promote the market economy. In recent years, the Chinese have become more comfortable calling each other "Sir," "Mr.," "Ms" and "Miss," according to Xinhua news agency.

The same trend has later found its way into government bodies and even Party organizations, where Party members call their superiors their official titles or "laoban," a Chinese parlance of "boss" as used to address one's superiors in a company with a connotation of a hiring relationship.

The recent circular issued by the CPC Shanghai Committee requires all Party members in the city to again use the term "comrade" in addressing each other. It said this is an important step to restore "the fine tradition" of the Party and to bring the Party closer to the ordinary people.

Xia Lanzhen, a local Party member for 45 years, said she liked the address because it gave her a sense of equality.

Qian Weizhong, in the Shanghai civil affairs office, said he finds it a little difficult to change to the old term since he has been addressing others with their titles for about two decades.

Despite the initial awkwardness, Qian said he was happy since the word "comrade" has helped to improve the relationship between him and his superiors.

Lin Shangli, a professor of political science at Fudan University, said that the use of government titles and "laoban" could lead to an increased bureaucratic style of work and estrange officials from ordinary people.

Han Zheng, the newly elected mayor of Shanghai, said that using the term "comrade" is not necessarily old-fashioned, while addressing one's superior as "laoban" does not infer a sense of openness.

"All our Party members should never forget the importance of maintaining a close relationship between the Party and the people," Han added.

Shanghai resident Hu Fengwu, 54, told Xinhua that he appreciates and welcomes the change.

"The term 'comrade' could help to stamp out the arrogance that some officials used to show," he said.

(eastday.com April 4, 2003)