The number of overseas Chinese returning to Free China and those going to the mainland present a picture of contrast.
The total number of overseas Chinese students returning from many parts of the world this year is 3,052. In addition to this number, there are 4,000 already on this island. It is a conservative estimate that by next year, there will be no less than 6,000 overseas students coming to further their education in Taiwan.
Up to September 12 this year, 2,155 students had been admitted to colleges and universities and 846 to middle schools.
There are now 641 students from Singapore and Malaya against six in 1951. The number of students from Indonesia was only five in 1951; now it is 502. In 1953 there were only nine students from Thailand. This number has been increased to 207. There were six students from the PI in 1952; the present numbers 106. There were only two students from North Borneo in 1953; now we have 69. A total of 532 are from Vietnam.
Overseas Chinese Visitors
In 1950 there were 19 overseas Chinese visitors representing four overseas organizations. It is estimated that we shall have more than 4,000 overseas Chinese visitors this year representing no less than 49 overseas Chinese organizations.
Overseas Chinese Investments
The Overseas Affairs Commission has made public the fact that the Government has approved 136 applications from overseas Chinese for permission to make investment in Taiwan amounting to US$21,172,000, 41 per cent of which comes from Hongkong and Macao.
Indonesian Head Tax
More than 300 leading overseas Chinese held a conference in Bandung to discuss the advisability of appealing to the Indonesian Government to reconsider its decision to collect the new alien head tax.
Indonesian Nationality Issue
The cultural department of the Indonesian Government announced that all students of both sexes born in Indonesia before December 27, 1949, are to be recognized as Indonesian citizens. However, such students would be treated as aliens if their parents, acting on their behalf, renounced their Indonesian citizenship before December 27, 1951. Any action taken by the parents after this date would be ignored by the government.
Thai Educational Policy
The assistant secretary of the Ministry of Education of the Thai Government declared at a press conference on August 27 that in accordance with the five-year educational policy adopted by the Ministry of Education, all Chinese born in Thailand are required to receive their education in Thai schools.
Overseas Chinese Newspapers
There are 164 Chinese newspapers published in many parts of the world for an overseas population of 14,000,000 Chinese. The majority of these papers, 130 in all, are published in Asia. Thirty are published on the American continent and four in Africa. With only few exceptions, they are all anti-Communist in policy and patriotic in spirit. They have done excellent work in combating Communist propaganda.
The circulation of these newspapers varies from 3,000 to 30,000, depending upon the size of the Chinese population. In spite of many difficulties, they have managed to be self-supporting. In recent years quite a few of them are published in English, Japanese, Indonesian and Spanish.
The most urgent problems that confront the overseas Chinese newspapers are (1) Shortage of trained journalists (2) lack of supply of news stories and features and (3) lack of modern equipment.
Chinese In Vancouver
The Chinese in Vancouver held a meeting on July 21 in the auditorium of the Chinese Association in honor of a 107-year old Chinese, Mr. Law Kui Seng, who was presented with the Chinese character "longevity", by a leading Chinese on behalf of President Chinag.
Seattle Chinese Night
A Chinese night was held on August 8. Everyone of the Chinese community was in a festive spirit. Both the Governor and Mayor attended. Between 50-60 thousand spectators turned out to enjoy the fireworks, Chinese music, floats, bands, lion's dance, etc.
Success of Overseas Youths
Many of China's overseas youths have distinguished themselves either in the field of academic pursuit or in business enterprise. Three outstanding cases are worth mentioning.
(1) In science, physicists Yang Chen-ning, Lee Tsung-dao and Wu Kien-hsiung have won acclaim from scientists the world over with their new theory on Parity Laws, which replaces the old theory. In addition to being awarded US$1,033 by the New York Einstein Medical College, Drs. Lee and Yang are the recipients of the Einstein Portrait Medal, one of the highest honors to be conferred upon a scientist in recognition of his achievement in the field of science.
(2) Since September 1955 Lee Yuan-nieh, Mei Yueh-chuan, Mei Fu-eng, and Liu Sze-yin of Chicago, Ill. went into partnership in cold-storage business, for which they built their Chinese food cold-storage house in Houston, Texas. This cold-storage house consists of four departments, namely cost accounting, sales, food preparation and mechanics.
(3) An 18-year-old girl of San Francisco, Miss Lee Mon-tsi, was awarded the first prize for being the most successful youth at the 48th annual American youth competition. Out of 4,000 small-scale factory organizations which entered the contest, Miss Lee had proved that she represented the best of all.
PI Retail Nationalization
The secretary of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce declared on September 26 that new evidence has justified the Chinese people's appeal to the court to reconsider the PI Retail Nationalization bill, which in the eyes of competent legal authorities is unconstitutional.
Chinese In Singapore
On September 28 the educational authorities of Singapore notified all government middle schools to the effect that new students seeking admission to middle schools must meet the following requirements:
(1) Every student must be in possession of a certificate of residence.
(2) Parents or responsible sponsors of students must be in possession of a certificate of residence.
(3) Every student must produce a certificate to show that he has completed the sixth grade of a local grammar school.
Chinese In Malaya
A responsible spokesman of the Malayan educational authorities declared at a press conference on September 28 that the registration of children of school age will reach 31,280 next year. There will be enough room to admit all these school children. However, it is the new ruling of the educational authorities that no student, whether he goes to a Chinese, English, Indian, or Malayan school is permitted to attend two schools at the same time. For instance, one is not allowed to attend an English school in the morning and a Chinese school in the afternoon.
For a Chinese population of 900,000 in Singapore, there are 277 Chinese schools for 120,000 students.
Chinese In Tokyo
Mr. Chang Ho-hsiang, overseas Chinese leader in Tokyo, raised 11,800,000 yen (US$29,000) for the construction of new buildings for the Tokyo Chung Hwa School. Mr. Chang's personal contribution was 8,000,000 yen, while Messrs. Cheng Li-kwi, Chow Chung-kih, Chow Hsiang-keng, etc. contributed one million yen each; Tung Feng-ki donated half a million, and Wang Ching-yuen 300,000 yen.
Books on China and Neighboring Countries
"Burma and China" by Chang Cheng-fan is a booklet of 10,000 words giving an account of the uninterrupted relations between Burma and China in the past 2,000 years. The book, published on February 8, 1956, dwells on the following six points:
(a) Relations between ancient Malaya and China
(b) Chinese pioneers share in the development of Malaya
(c) Influence of Chinese customs and faith on Malaya
(d) Trade between Malaya and China
(e) Prospects of future Sino-Malayan relations
"Korea and China" by Mr. Kee Lai-yang was published on January 24, 1954. It is a book of 15,000 words portraying the friendly relations between Korea and China in the past 4,030 years.
"America and China" by Mr. Yin-yuen fan was published on November 24, 1954. In about 12,000 words, the author touched upon the following points:
(1) Introduction to Sino-American relations
(2) The effects of American "Open Door Policy"
(3) Development of Sino-American relations
(4) Future Sino-American relations
"Thailand and China" by Chu Yuen Yin published on August 22, 1956 and "Indonesia and China" by Choo Hsiu-chia published on April 6, 1955 are booklets of equal importance that contribute to a better understanding between the overseas Chinese and those at home.