 In November 1980, Tong was transferred to Lianyuan to work as an officer at Lianyuan Steel.In December 1983, Tong was promoted to become the Deputy Party Secretary of Loudi, a position he held until December 1986.In January 1987, he was appointed the Director of the Hunan provincial party Propaganda Department, he remained in that position until February 1988, when he was appointed the director of the General Office of the Hunan Party Committee.