 Hua gave self-criticism sessions and eventually renounced the Two Whatevers policy as a mistake.Both Zhao and Hu were protégés of Deng who were dedicated to Chinese economic reform.Hua Guofeng was demoted to junior Vice Chairman; and when this post was abolished in 1982, he remained as an ordinary member of the Central Committee, a position which he held until the 16th Party Congress of November 2002, despite having passed the mandatory retirement age of 70 in 1991.