Zhu Houze, former propaganda chief, dies at age 79

Former Communist Party propaganda chief Zhu Houze died of lung cancer on Sunday at Beijing Hospital, the South China Morning Post reported. Zhu, 79, was diagnosed with cancer a month ago. As the head of the Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department between 1985 and 1987, Zhu advocated a liberal environment and a tolerant attitude in his cultural policies. "His concept of ‘being liberal, tolerant and lenient’ represents a direction for China’s ideology and publicity. It should be a guideline for society building for the governing party," said Hu Xingdou, a professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology. Zhu was removed as head of the Central Propaganda Department in 1987, when Hu Yaobang was forced to resign as general secretary on dissatisfaction with his response to a wave of student protests. There will be no farewell or memorial ceremony, but a funeral for Zhu will be held among relatives and his ashes will be brought to his hometown of Zhijin county in Guizhou, his family said. He is survived by his wife, son and two daughters.