Vocational training program under way
A National Vocational Training Service for Industry was established April 4 to sponsor training of instructors, workers and apprentices for Taiwan industry.
Interior Minister Hsu Ching-chung and Economic Affairs Minister K.T. Li presided at Liberty House ceremonies marking the start of the program, which will be carried out jointly by the Ministry of Interior and Council for International Economic Cooperation and Development.
The four-year project will cost US$2,156,100, of which US$918,000 will come from the U.N. Special Fund and the rest from the Chinese government.
Minister Li urged entrepreneurs to give more attention to the training of skilled workers. Other speakers were Minister Hsu and William Roy Lucas, resident representative of the U.N. Development Program in China.
A vocational training center will be set up at Taishan in suburban Taipei.
NVTSI will operate as a foundation. It will be supervised by a board of 25 to 30 directors. Minister Hsu will be chairman and Vice Minister of Economic Affairs C.C. Chang and Vice Minister of Communications Walter Fei will be vice chairmen.
Thirteen UNDP advisers will help staff the center. Three are already here: T.E. Antoine, chief; Leslie J. Cairns, adviser on industrial electricity; and Edward William Mills, adviser on apprenticeship.
Taiwan will need some 34,000 lower-level skilled workers annually in the next four years.
Boxer reparations funds are allocated
The China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture has appropriated US$100,500 for subsidies to the National Science Council, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan University for cultural and educational undertakings in 1968-69.
The decision was made at CFPEC's 36th annual meeting with Dr. Sun Fo, its president, presiding. Of the appropriation, US$72,000 will go to National Science Council, US$16,500 to the Academia Sinica and US$12,000 to National Taiwan University.
The foundation administers interest generated from the U.S. share of Boxer Incident reparations. Trustees of the foundation represent both China and the United States. Everett F. Drumright, former U.S. Ambassador to China, was among the trustees present.
Funds administered are estimated at US$2,740,000.
Porcelain experts attend seminar
A three-day Chinese Porcelain Seminar was held at the National Museum of History in Taipei March 26-28.
Some 40 authorities on chinaware and antiques from 12 countries and territories reached agreement on several points. As reported to the meeting by Dr. John A. Pope, director of the Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., they include:
1. Possible existence of Ju and Northern Sung Imperial wares. Likelihood that Ko ware was the same as Lung-ch'uan ware or at least contemporaneous.
2. Blue and white porcelains of the Ming Hsuan-te period are the finest of their kind.
3. Gourd-shaped porcelains of China have influenced other potters. The Kuang ware of the Ming dynasty has the same shape as pottery excavated in the Philippines.
An exhibition of 274 Chinese porcelains was held at the museum. Those attending the seminar came from the United States, Britain, West Germany, France, Canada, Sweden, Japan, Hongkong, Borneo, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Center will study Communist affairs
The Ministry of Education has decided to establish a research center for students of Chinese Communist affairs at the National Chengchi University this fall.
It will be known as the Institute of East Asian Studies and will offer a program of graduate study leading to a master of arts degree.
The center will cooperate with the Institute of International Relations and serve as a clearing house for information about Chinese Communism.
An initial budget of US$100,000 will come from the Ministry of Education and the Institute of International Relations.
Text on journalism available in Chinese
A Chinese translation of The Professional Journalist by John Hohenberg, professor of the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, is off the press.
Widely used in schools of journalism in the United States, the book was translated by Ouyang Chun, professor of journalism at National Chengchi University and concurrently deputy editor-in-chief of the Taiwan Daily News, and Hsu Chi-ming, a Central News Agency editor.
Professor Hohenberg has been a guest professor at National Chengchi University. Dr. Richard T. Baker, a Columbia colleague of Prof. Hohenberg, is currently teaching at Cheng-chi.
Leaders salute teachings of sages
Members of the Confucius-Mencius Society met at the Taipei Shih Chien Hall to mark the eighth anniversary of the organization's establishment.
President Chiang Kai-shek sent a message urging the society to intensify efforts to raise standards of morality. He said the teachings of Confucius and Mencius express the essence of Chinese culture.
"At a time when we are launching a Chinese cultural renaissance movement to combat the heresy of Communism, the teachings of the two greatest sages of China should be our example," he said.
Chen Ta-chi, president of the society and former president of National Chengchi University, presided.
Vice President-Prime Minister C.K. Yen was the speaker. He said the teachings of the sages are "like the sky which covers all and like the earth which carries all."
Confucianism and Mencianism have shined through history despite all changes, Yen said.
Professor Hsiung Kung-cheh of National Taiwan University spoke on filial piety and fraternity as the foundation of benevolence.
The society has 1,394 scholar-members.
Four groups have their special days
Free China marked Fine Arts Day with varied programs March 25.
A ceremony was held at the National Art Hall in Taipei. Painter Ma Shou-hua presided. Three movies were shown.
Other events included:
- A 10-day exhibition of calligraphy by women at the Art Hall.
- A three-day exhibition of the art works of teachers and students at the National Academy of Arts.
- An exhibition of paintings on the history of the Chinese national revolution at the Political Staff College.
- An exhibition of fine arts work by teachers at the Provincial Taichung Library.
Chinese Broadcasting Day was marked two days later. A ceremonial meeting was held at the Taipei City Hall in the morning and a party at the same place in the evening. Golden Bell awards were presented to radio stations by Cultural Bureau Director Paul H.C. Wang.
Vice President-Prime Minister C.K. Yen urged radio and TV workers to redouble their efforts in the cause of mainland recovery and national reconstruction.
"The nation," he said, "is celebrating Broadcasting Day to congratulate you for your achievements, to thank you for your service and to express our congratulations on your progress."
It was the children's turn April 4. Mayor Henry Kao and City Council Speaker Chang Hsiang-chuan presented awards won in painting and athletic contests at City Hall ceremonies. Attending were representatives from all Taipei elementary schools.
Children at orphanages received candy and gifts. The Chungshan Kiddieland, Children's Theater and City Zoo opened their doors to youngsters without charge.
More than 3,000 letters written by children on the offshore island of Matsu were carried by balloon to children on the Chinese mainland.
Musicians had their day April 5. The ninth convention of the Chinese Musicians' Association was held at Taipei International House in the morning. Professor Chang Ching-hung of National Taiwan Normal University presided. A resolution asked the government to help talented middle school students seek higher education in music.
A Music Day meeting was held in the afternoon with Professor Tai Tsui-lun, director of the Chinese Musicians' Association, presiding.
Professors from the music departments of four colleges gave an evening concert in memory of Professor Wu Po-chao, a composer who died 20 years ago. Dr. Robert Scholz, a U.S. Fulbright professor and pianist, conducted. Miss Wu Yi-mei, Italian-trained pianist and daughter of Professor Wu, was at the piano.
Chinese golfers dominate tourney
Chinese players captured the first four places in the US$10,000 China open golf tournament at the Tamsui Golf and Country Club March 28-31.
Y.Y. Hsieh, 34, the defending champion from Tamsui, won with a six-under-par 282.
Kuo Chi-hsiung, also from Tamsui, led for the first three rounds and finished second one stroke behind.
Hsu Sheng-sen, an amateur, was third with 284 and Lu Liang-huan and amateur Chen Chien-chen tied for fourth at 285.
Randall Vines of Australia, winner of the Thailand and Hongkong opens, wound up ninth.
One hundred fifty-eight golfers from eight countries and Hongkong participated.