Even the armour produced in state factories varied according to the province of origin.

The 160 members and employees of Beryozka take home 250 rubles, or about $415, a month, more than they made as a state factory.

Other business activities are allowed only if a cooperative is under contract to a state factory or official group.

At the same time, the government is closing many money-losing state factories and throwing millions more people out of work.

One said he would buy a car on the open market, instead of waiting up to 20 years to order one from the state factory.

For poor people who could not pay their taxes in kind or with money would have to work in state factories.

While the state factories still operate under old standards, they at least have standards.

The conversion of state factories has often left the workers at odds with new employers, both foreign and Chinese.

There was never much work here except that provided by state factories, part of China's planned economy.

Armor was not standardized and even that produced in state factories varied according to the province of origin.