On Guangdong Provincial Assembly

The Provincial Assembly was a locally-established consultative institution during the Late Qing Reform. It was an important process of the Chinese transition from feudal autocracy to capitalist democracy. By investigating the arrangement, establishment, projects and activities of Guangdong Provincial Assembly, and analyzing its characteristic, nature and influence, and on the basis of which to form an objective and comprehensive evaluation of it, we can use the experience for reference for democracy, especially the local democracy establishment.Guangdong Provincial assembly was set up in October 1909 whose members were bureaucrats though influenced by bourgeois ideas to deferent extent. During the two-year- long existence of the Guangdong Provincial Assembly, two annual meetings and two provisional meetings were held. And 147 projects were adopted in all, mostly as vigorous measures to carry out the New Policies and the Preliminary Constitution. Some were that Guangdong Provincial Assembly fight with the local government office for the rights of supervision regard to the quality of the administration, law and finance. Guangdong Provincial Assembly took part in the parliament petition all over the country, which took great effect for the independence of Guangdong. Guangdong Provincial Assembly was a consultative institution, which abided by some democratic courses and had its own characteristics, proposing and reviewing those important issues for the province. During its existence, Guangdong Provincial Assembly conscientiously carried out its duties and took part in the political affairs, which created great influence in Guangdong or even all over the country, and also took positive effect for the modernization of Guangdong. There were plenty of disputes and controversies between Guangdong Provincial Assembly and the local government office regard to the political affairs of the province. It managed to overcome the difficulties and search for supports outside. Due to the positive supports from all walks of life, the Provincial Assembly could achieve some success as managed to get rid of all the obstructions.