This kind of problem is that as long as the start-up funds of a civilian industry during the Westernization Movement came from the private sector, it can be said that the start-up funds of the civilian industry came from the government and the private sector.
And there seems to be no concept of "government-supervised commercial enterprises" in current textbooks. But in fact, government-supervised commercial operations were an important operation mode of civilian industry during the Westernization Movement.
It is recommended that you have a brief understanding of the government-controlled commercial enterprises~but you don’t need to master them in detail...
Government-operated commercial enterprises
1. Background: The Westernizationists felt deep financial difficulties in the process of establishing military industries and establishing a new navy and army, and gradually realized that the prosperity of Western countries was not only their "expertise" in strong ships and artillery, but more importantly, their strong economic strength. Therefore, since the 1970s, while continuing to "seek strength", the Westernizationists also established civilian enterprises with the purpose of "seeking wealth". From the 1970s to the 1990s, *** founded more than 20 private enterprises. Except for a few that were run by the government or jointly run by the government and businessmen, most of them were run by the government and under the supervision of businessmen.
2. Mainly officials supervise commercial enterprises.
① Steamship Investment Promotion Bureau: established in Shanghai by Li Hongzhang in 1872. This was the largest civilian enterprise established by the Westernization faction. It was initially funded by official funds, but later failed to manage well. Half a year later, it was turned into a commercial enterprise. However, the general bureau or branch office must "apply to the Constitution" to recommend or replace business leaders and business directors, which reflects the official Characteristics of Supervisory Business Office. However, after the Sino-French War, the investment promotion bureau stipulated that "a senior official should be assigned to supervise the management carefully, and all personnel and financial management should be subject to the arrangements." The commercial atmosphere has been greatly weakened.
②Kaiping Mining: Founded in Tangshan in 1878. "Although the bureau is run by officials and oversees commercial operations," it adopts a commercial-run enterprise management approach. Later, due to the high cost of iron smelting, the iron mine was closed and it specialized in coal mines. Later, the Kaiping Railway and ships were opened to transport coal mines. The business of Kaiping Mining Bureau was once prosperous. After 1892, due to poor management, production and operation deteriorated.
③ General Administration of Telegraph: In military activities, the Westernizers realized the importance of telegraphy. With the approval of the Qing government, they established the Telegraph School in Tianjin in 1880. The General Administration of Telegraph was a government-run enterprise. Two years later, it was changed to Officials supervise business operations. In 1884, the General Administration moved to Shanghai, and since then the telegraph industry has developed in all important cities. However, due to the sharp increase in the cost of each first-class official newspaper, the losses were endless. Afterwards, it is stipulated that half of the cost will be "resulted by public consultation", and the other half will be provided as monthly funds or in cash.
④ Shanghai machine weaving layout: This weaving layout product enjoys special patent rights and preferential treatment. For example, Li Hongzhang declared: "Within ten years, only Chinese merchants are allowed to operate, and no other bureaus are allowed to be established." The shipment and sale of products are also exempt from tax. It has been highly profitable since it was put into production in 1890, but was later destroyed by fire. After reconstruction, more than 10 branches were established.
3. Evaluation: In modern times, government-run commercial enterprises were bound by the feudal economy, and they were also obstructed and resisted by the stubborn feudal forces in using modern machine industry and science and technology. The Westernizationists were both the founders and suppressors of government-run commercial enterprises. Those whose various interferences hinder the normal development of enterprises. In addition, foreign capitalism relied on its economic privileges to squeeze out the development of China's modern industry and commerce. Commercial enterprises run by officials and supervised by officials must not only rely on the support and support of Westernization "officials", but also rely on the economic investment and management of "businessmen". The establishment and development of government-supervised commercial enterprises resisted and broke the monopoly and stranglehold of "foreign businessmen" on modern Chinese industry and commerce to a certain extent, and promoted the development of modern Chinese social productivity. However, it should also be noted that it is impossible to get rid of the control of feudal bureaucracy and its dependence on foreign capitalism. Under the dual constraints of foreign economic forces and the feudal bureaucracy of Westernization, it is difficult or even impossible for them to obtain gains in accordance with the laws of capitalist market economy. Free development and competitiveness. This is the reason why the Westernization faction has been running civil enterprises for more than 20 years, with great momentum but little results.