Education ministry gives eight awards
Four scientists, two writers, a painter and a composer have received 1968 Ministry of Education awards of NT$40,000 (US$1,000) and gold medals.
The winners were selected from among 34 nominees. They are:
- Dr. Lin Er-kang, 37, of Foochow, a nuclear physicist. A graduate of the Chinese Naval College of Technology, he obtained his MS from National Tsinghua University and his doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh. He is an associate research fellow at the Academia Sinica and an associate professor of Tsinghua University.
- Lin Po-chien, 60, of Kwangtung, a civil engineer. A graduate of Japan’s Kyushu University, he is professor of civil engineering at Cheng Kung University.
- Chu Hsueh-tseng, 60, of Chekiang, a graduate of Chekiang University. He is an engineer at the Taiwan Sugar Experiment Center.
- Dr. Chen Hai-ching, 44, of Taipei, who has carried out studies in pathology and anatomy. He is a professor at the Medical College of National Taiwan University.
- Wu Yen-mei, 36, of Nanking, a retired army officer and author of a million-word novel Kuang Feng Shah (Wild Wind and Sand), which tells of conflict between the salt-merchants and warlords in the early period of the Chinese Republic.
- Teng Sui-ning, 54, of Liaoning, head of the Movie and Drama Department at the National Academy of Arts, honored for his drama “Red Guards”.
- Fu Chuan-fu, 59, of Chekiang, recognized for his Chinese painting. He is a professor at the National Academy of Arts.
- Liao Nien-fu, a composer of Chinese classical music. He is a violinist with the Taiwan Provincial Symphony Orchestra.
Regional population organization urged
A five-day Conference on Population Programs in East Asia (CPPEA) was held in Taipei May 3-7 with some 60 demographers from 12 Asian countries and areas participating.
Twelve recommendations, including one to establish a regional association, were adopted. A working committee to study the feasibility of the association consists of Dr. S. C. Hsu (China), Dr. Jae Mo Yang (Korea), Dr. Kandish Kanagaratham (Singapore), Mrs. O. Djoewari (Indonesia) and General Netr Khemayodhin (Thailand) .
Other recommendations call for an annual conference, Asian-to-Asian technical assistance and standardization of data reporting, collection, processing and evaluation.
Chinese Economic Minister K. T. Li told of population pressures on Taiwan’s economic development. He said rapid population growth has resulted in a high dependency burden.
The conference was sponsored by the Maternal and Child Health Association of China, the Population Council of New York and the Chinese government. Represented were China, Hongkong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Ryukyus and the United States.
Series of stamps reproduces painting
A set of five NT$1 stamps partially reproducing “A City of Cathay” - famous scroll painting by Chang Tse-tuan of the Northern Sung dynasty (960-1126 A.D.) - will be issued by the Chinese Post Office this month.
The painting is 37 feet long by 4 feet wide. It shows more than 4,000 human figures plus animals, birds, trees, flowers, vessels and buildings.
In Chinese the picture is called Ch’ing Ming (clear and bright festival) Shang Ho (on the river) Tu (picture). The Ch’ing Ming festival of April 5 or the eighth day of the third moon of the lunar calendar is an occasion for visiting ancestral graves.
The five NT$1 stamps are numbered from right to left. The Imperial Palace appears on the No. 5 stamp at far left. A queen is shown landing at the palace entrance from a boat (No. 4). The gate and walls of the Forbidden City of the emperor are seen on the No. 2 and No. 3 stamps.
Too many doctors are going overseas
The government has been urged to curb the outflow of medical doctors.
Dr. Chiu Shih-jung, superintendent of the National Taiwan University Hospital, said the number of departing medical graduates has been increasing rapidly.
“Unless this is stopped or curbed,” Dr. Chiu said, “my hospital will have to close sooner or later.”
He said NTU Hospital could find only 44 of 66 needed residents last year. This year’s need is for 75 and there are only 60 applicants, some of whom are preparing to go to the United States.
He said regulations that medical graduates must work for the government two years or for a private hospital three years are not being enforced.
Doctors leaving totaled 120 in 1966 and 150 in 1967. The departure of 90 this year has already been approved. Of 500 doctors who have gone abroad, fewer than 10 have returned.
The government spends about NT$200,000 (US$5,000) to train a medical doctor.
Mothers and nurses share ‘their days’
Mother’s Day coincided with Nurses’ Day on May 12.
Taipei city honored 17 model mothers at a City Hall observance. Mayor Henry Kao handed out plaques, medals and gifts.
A similar ceremony in Taichung honored 32 model mothers from various cities, counties and towns of the province. Governor Huang Chieh officiated.
The police department honored 18 model mothers in Taipei.
On the offshore island of Kinmen (Quemoy), 10 model mothers were cited by the county government.
The celebration of Nurses’ Day, marking the birth of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), was climaxed by a candle ceremony in which more than 1.000 nurses participated at the auditorium of the Provincial Junior College of Nursing in Taipei. Nurses with more than 25 years of service were cited. Minister of Interior Hsu Ching-chung presented gifts.
Nurses’ Week started May 6. Activities included speeches, seminars, discussions, exhibitions and films.
Asian youth leaders will visit Taiwan
The Chinese National Union of College Students has sent invitations to eight Asian nations and Hongkong to participate in a Young Asians’ Recreation Tour of Taiwan September 1 through 10.
The countries are Thailand, South Korea, South Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan.
The goal is improved understanding and cooperation among Asian young men and women.
Some 80 participants will tour scenic spots and places of economic interest. They will see Chinese youth activities and exchange views with Chinese young people.
The Cultural Bureau of the Ministry of Education will sponsor a Taipei writers’ conference in the fall.
Paul H. C. Wang, director of the bureau, said established writers who advocate freedom of faith, of speech and of freedom of thinking will be invited.
The Cultural Bureau is also planning to build a music hall in Taipei and to draft regulations concerning the mass communications industry.
Chinese opera troupes will be sent abroad to promote cultural interflow. Troupes are tentatively scheduled to go to Japan in July and November and to Iran in November.
Museum library opened to public
The National Palace Museum opened its library to the public May 15. The collection of more than 150,000 volumes includes classics of literature, history, philosophy and the arts.
A series of museum exhibitions will tell the story of Chinese books from the earliest times. Now on display are rubbings from bronze inscriptions and books made of bamboo. Ancient maps also are shown.
Education Minister Yen Chen-hsing announced that NT$4 million (US$100,000) will be spent this year on translation of world classics into Chinese and compilation of a science dictionary.
Lectures scheduled in criminal law
Dr. Jerome Hall, professor of the University of Indiana, arrived in Taipei May 23 for a month’s lecture tour.
Professor Hall, 67, of Chicago, who attended the University of Chicago, Columbia and Harvard, is an authority on criminal law.
He will lecture at the law colleges of several universities and meet with government officials. He is president of the American section, International Association for Legal and Social Philosophy, and president of the American Society of Political and Legal Philosophy.
Author of many books, he has lectured in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Canada, the Republic of China and other countries.
Recreation center for overseas students
Overseas Chinese students in Taipei now have their own recreation center. The US$142,500 building was dedicated by Vice President and Prime Minister C. K. Yen May 4.
Vice President Yen said some 10,000 overseas Chinese students have come to Taiwan for advanced education during the last 17 years.
Most have returned to their countries of residence and are doing important work there.
The center is located at National Taiwan University. President Chiang Kai-shek presented the name plaque for the four-story building.
May is the month for athletic meets
May was the month for athletic meets.
Taipei held a four-day meet for college and high school athletes May 4-8 at the municipal stadium. More than 1,400 took part. Thirty records were set in track and field events and 11 in swimming.
National Taiwan Normal University won both men’s and women’s track and field championships in the college division.
The Taipei First Girls’ Senior High School won the track and field title in the senior high school girls’ division. The Chien Kuo Senior High School and the Taipei Commercial High School shared the boys’ championship.
In the junior high school division, the Ta Tung Junior High School and Yu Ta Commercial School shared the boys’ championship and the Municipal Girls’ Junior High School won honors.
City elementary school students had a meet May 16-18. A student from the Taipei Blind and Deaf School won a gold medal.
The 22nd Taiwan elementary school baseball championships were held in Taipei May 14-21. The Hung Yeh team from Taitung won out over 29 others. The Tsui Yang team from Chiayi was second and the Po Ai team from Taitung third.
The Taiwan Provincial Government had a three-day meet for its employees May 21-23 at Chung Hsin New Village, site of the TPG. More than 3,000 civil servants participated.
President Chiang Kai-shek’s silver cup for sportsmanship was won by the police.
Track and field honors were shared by the Provincial Food Bureau and Provincial Tobacco and Wine Monoply Bureau.