The nation observed Freedom Day on January 23. The occasion recalls the 1954 arrival in the Republic of China of more than 14,000 former Chinese Communists who chose freedom at the end of the Korean War. In a message addressed to a mass rally in Taipei, President Chiang said:
"I have often pointed out that Communism is at the root of all aggressive wars and that the Peiping regime is the source of evil behind all undertakings of aggression. Until the Chinese mainland is freed from the Red scourge, the world cannot expect an era of tranquility.
"Rapid progress has been made in all aspects of the Republic of China's San Min Chu I (Three Principles of the People) reconstruction in the national recovery base of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. This has made an important contribution to the safeguarding of peace and freedom in the Asian and Pacific region. The Peiping regime has been forced down the road of political disintegration, social disorder, economic desiccation and military upheaval. The regime is at the end of its rope and far-reaching changes can be expected on the mainland at any moment. Collapse of the regime is inevitable as soon as it comes under attack by external freedom forces supported by the anti-Maoists and anti-Communists of the mainland.
"The triumph of freedom and the defeat of slavery are immutably ordained. History supplies the undeniable proof. However, peace is not to be obtained by procrastination. Freedom has to be won by applying moral strength to the struggle. We need to unite all our brethren at home and abroad, military and civilian alike, and provide opportunity for every individual to contribute his or her wisdom and strength. All of us must dedicate ourselves absolutely and heroically to the cause of the Anti-Mao and National Salvation Front.
"We can hope that our mainland compatriots will devote their attention and their energies to the self-salvation movement to destroy Mao and the Communists and assure the survival of the nation. All who are strong of body and of will must rise against tyranny, ally themselves with the awakened cadres of the Communist Party and military, prepare to join the great army of the National Revolution and strike a fatal blow at the Peiping regime whenever opportunity permits.
"Even more importantly, we have to unite with the freedom-loving people of the world, develop the strength of universal principles and justice, sweep away the dark clouds of appeasement and compromise in the face of the Communist peril and assure the progress of this worldwide movement to protect freedom. We are convinced that the early recovery of the Chinese mainland is indispensable to the reinforcement of Asian security and the safeguarding of freedom and peace throughout the world."
Vice President and Prime Minister C. K. Yen addressed the rally. He told free nations that "We are all in the same boat and our interests are identical". "If any country now entertains the illusion of making friends with the Chinese Communists," he said, "it can only invite endless trouble for itself and prolong the suffering of the 700 million Chinese people shut behind the Iron Curtain. We have reason to ask that all free countries distinguish friends from enemies, recognize their own self-interest and disinterest, and abandon any false hope that the Chinese Communists can be appeased."
Answering questions for a visiting group of 12 correspondents stationed in Tokyo, President Chiang made these points:
—The United States is not going to disengage itself from Asia. As a Pacific power, it cannot.
—Peiping seeks political ends in trade with Japan and other countries of the free world.
—Conflict between Peiping and Moscow is serious but not likely to lead to total war.
—Deterioration of the mainland situation is worse than commonly believed and "the Peiping regime will not last long".
—No matter what may happen on the international scene, the basic position of the Republic of China on the maintenance of freedom and security will never change.
President Chiang made recommendations for the development of science, the institution of reforms and the training of manpower in his message to the 16th meeting of the Planning Committee for the Recovery of the Mainland. More than 1,400 of the 1,625 members attended the two-day session. The committee has produced 927 mainland recovery blueprints since its establishment. President Chiang said these must be revised and kept up to date.
Integrity comes first among judges, President Chiang declared in his Judicial Day message. Law is the foundation of democracy, he added, and judicial reform is the central link in the nation's total reform program. Juvenile delinquency requires more study, he said.
President Chiang conferred with chiefs of mission from the Taipei diplomatic colony in a series of meetings. Among those talking to the President were Spanish Ambassador Julio de Larracoechea, Japanese Ambassador Osamu Itagaki, Australian Ambassador H. A. Dunn, Korean Ambassador Kim Shin, Turkish Ambassador Haluk Kocamen, Dominican Ambassador Jose Villanueva, Venezuelan Ambassador Jose Gil-Borges, Brazilian Ambassador Lauro Muller Neto, Panamanian Ambassador Rafael Richard and Gabonese Ambassador Joseph N'Goua.
Reporting to the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party), Vice President and Prime Minister C. K. Yen said the administration is seeking modernization without the negation of tradition. He said that 1969 objectives were attained and that the Executive Yuan had taken important steps toward governmental reform. Included are the centralization of economic and financial planning and implementation, and the revision of budgetary and fiscal measures.
The National Security Council, highest policymaking body of the Republic of China, directed the cabinet to undertake overall planning for urban development, population distribution, utilization of land and water resources, and the development of industrial and commercial areas. Measures to arrest the decline in agriculture also were asked.
Cabinet approval was given a measure according senior government officials increased authority over subordinates. Power will include that to dismiss employees. Superiors will be held accountable for corruption or other serious misdeeds of government" workers.
These research projects were adopted by the National Assembly's Committee for the Study of Constitutional Problems:
—Frontier policy.
—Improvement of judicial administration.
—Relations among the five yuans (Executive, Legislative, Judicial, Examination and Control).
—Strategy of mainland recovery and national reconstruction.
—Improvement of education.
—Revision of criminal law.
—Conflict between civil law and traditional culture.
—Political counterattack.
—Equalization of urban land ownership.
—Economic development.
—Overseas Chinese support for the Republic of China.
Plans have been announced to emphasize loans instead of grants in allocations from the Sino-American Fund for Social and Economic Development, which is made up of residual U.S. aid funds and repayments. Interest rates will be raised.
Government bond issues in the fiscal year beginning next July 1 are expected to total US$70 million. This will represent an increase over the current year, largely as a result of pay increases to civil servants.
Attempts are under way to stimulate the rate of private savings, which now stands at 6.5 per cent of income versus 14 per cent in Japan. Interest on small accounts will be exempted from income tax and school accounts encouraged.
Savings have been increasing. The total in banks as of the end of October was US$1,180 million, 46 per cent of all deposits and an increase of 435 per cent since 1961. Tax-free reconstruction bonds may be issued in small denominations.
The Taiwan Provincial Government, now located at Chung Hsing New Village near Taichung, is expected to move to Taichung city when it obtains the Kancheng barracks from the Ministry of National Defense. The move to Chung Hsing, which is in the countryside, was made in 1956. The Provincial Government formerly was located in Taipei.
Taipei's new 48-member city council was inaugurated with Speaker Lin Ting-sheng presiding. Lin, who heads one of Taiwan's largest electronic and electrical appliance manufacturers (Tatung), said the council would act as a bridge between people and administration. This is the first council to be elected since Taipei became a special municipality directly under the Executive Yuan and co-equal with Taiwan province.
Newly established by the government was a committee to help overseas Chinese open trading companies to push the sale of Taiwan-made goods. Making up the group will be representatives from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs and Finance, and the Council for International Economic Cooperation and Development.
Such companies already exist in Thailand, Hongkong, Malaysia, Madagascar and Brazil. The first additional firms probably will be established in the Philippines, Japan and Panama.
Taiwan's gross national product was up by 8.7 per cent in 1969 despite damage inflicted by two typhoons. Growth was still well over the target of 7 per cent.
The preliminary GNP figure was announced as US$4,760 million, a gain of 13.36 per cent. Per capita income was US$258, an increase of 7.86 per cent.
Industrial production made up 32.02 per cent of the GNP versus 30.32 per cent in 1968. Agriculture was down from 23.75 to 20.81 per cent. Agricultural production declined by 2.6 per cent as a result of typhoon damage.
Production of rice dropped by 90,000 metric tons (3.45 per cent) to 2,430,000 m/t. Mushroom output fell 20,000 metric tons (36 per cent) and bananas, the biggest foreign exchange earner among agricultural products, to 583,000 metric tons (down 9.5 per cent).
Industrial production climbed by 19 per cent.
Foreign trade totaled US$2,315 million, a gain of US$446 million. With exports of US$1,110 million and imports of US$1,204 million, the deficit was US$94 million, down by nearly half from 1968. Exports made up about a quarter of the GNP. The gain for exports was an outstanding 31.9 per cent, while imports climbed by only 17.4 per cent.
Leading exports were textiles at US$294 million, electrical products, US$119 million, and plywood and other wood products, US$101 million. Agricultural leaders were bananas, sugar, mushrooms and asparagus.
Machinery led imports at US$156 million, followed by electrical equipment and materials, US$143 million, and transportation equipment, US$119 million. Other leaders were chemicals, steel, raw cotton, soybeans, lumber and crude oil.
Import financing was provided by government funds (US$1,096 million), foreign aid (US$13 million) and exchange from private sources (US$94 million).
The United States moved ahead of Japan as the largest trading partner, and the balance favored Taiwan for the first time. Total trade was US$731 million with US$398 million in exports and US$333 million in imports. Japanese trade was US$663 million but showed a deficit of US$311 million. Exports totaled US$178 million and imports US$489 million.
Other important trading partners were Hongkong, South Vietnam, West Germany, Canada and Malaysia.
Foreign exchange reserves increased by US$100 million to more than US$400 million.
Exports of canned and preserved foods totaled more than US$100 million and all agricultural exports added up to US$322 million. The 5 per cent export surtax on bananas, mushrooms and asparagus was reduced to 3 per cent at the end of 1969.
Predictions for 1970 call for trade of US$1,550 million.
Soon to be established is the long-heralded Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs. It will take over functions of the Small Business Division of the Council for International Economic Cooperation and Development. The Industry Department of MOEA will be responsible for administration but will yield other functions to the new agency.
Finance Minister K. T. Li said investment in human resources will rise from the present 4.08 to 6 per cent in the next 10 years. Included in the human resources category are education, scientific research, employment guidance, safety, hygiene, etc.
First applications for space were accepted by the Taichung Export Processing Zone—Taiwan's second—starting in January. There are sites for 50 plants. Initial inquiries came from 41 potential investors, most of whom showed interest in electronics or optics. Investments are expected to total US$7.5 million with exports of US$30 million annually and 10,000 jobs.
Kaohsiung's second export processing zone will be opened for investment in July. There will be room for investment of US$30 million. Exports will reach a rate of US$120 million a year and there will be 40,000 jobs after four years. Kaohsiung's first zone has exceeded all expectations.
Ten more sites for industrial estates have been designated by the Taiwan Provincial Government. Area is 532.8 hectares and the locations are Han, Keelung, Taoyuan, Taichung, Chiayi, Miaoli, Hualien and Tainan. One of the two Taoyuan sites will be reserved for the tea industry. The Chiayi zone will be for the pharmaceutical industry. The Tainan site will be developed by a private corporation rather than the government.
Overseas investment totaled US$109.7 million in 1969. Overseas Chinese supplied US$27.5 million worth of the capital in 207 cases. The rest of the money came from 116 foreign investors. Rejected applications totaled US$38.3 million in 13 overseas Chinese and 41 foreign cases.
Electronics was first among industries with investment of US$64.8 million. The biggest single investment—US$25 million—came from Philips of the Netherlands, which will build a Hsinchu plant to make television tubes. Investment in services was US$14.6 million. Textiles and chemicals were other leaders.
For the last 18 years, external investment has added up to US$430 million, of which more than a third went to electronics.
Minister of Economic Affairs Sun Yun-suan said the long-heralded integrated steel mill may be built in stages over a period of five years. Production capacity would be 2 million tons, about 400,000 tons more than expectable demand in the mid-1970s. Australian steel industry experts have testified that the plan is feasible.
Dr. Bruce Billings, special assistant to the U.S. ambassador in the field of science and technology, has urged the establishment of an optics industry in Taiwan. Two American industrial scientists will visit the Republic of China to look into the prospects. Billings said low labor costs and the fairly high level of education should make it possible to compete with Japan in optics, perhaps even including lasers and holography.
Taipower hopes there will be no industrial power curtailment during the summer dry season, when hydro production falls. Generating capacity is now 2.4 million kilowatts for a peak load of under 1.9 million kw. An additional 300,000 kw will be forthcoming in July when the second unit of the Talin thermal plant begins operations. Production of aluminum, fertilizer and other big users of electricity has been curtailed during the dry periods of recent years.
Government plans investment of US$325 million in the development of industry and the exploration of natural resources in 1970. The funds will include US$98,190,000 borrowed abroad. Lion's share of the investment will be in power, chemical and fertilizer industries.
China's first telegraph line (between Shanghai and Tientsin) began to clack at the end of 1881. At the end of 1969, the Republic of China was linked to the rest of the world via Pacific satellite. The US$10 million earth station on Yangmingshan in suburban Taipei was dedicated with telephone calls to the United States and other countries and a TV program from the Chinese Embassy in Washington. Reception was perfect.
Vice President C. K. Yen cut the ribbon at the ceremonies and told guests that the earth is shrinking and bringing the Confucian prediction of a world commonwealth closer to realization.
Owners of TV sets and radios received good news from the government. Annual renewal of licenses no longer will be required. Fees of US$1 for a radio and US$2 for a TV set will be paid only once. The previous fees of 75 cents for a radio and US$1.50 for a TV set were often evaded and collection was costly. New fees will be paid at the time of purchase.
Not all of the brains fail to return. Three hundred and one of them came home in 1969, according to the Assistance Commission for Chinese Students Abroad. Seventy-five were classified as scholars or researchers in science (19), engineering (9), arts (12), agriculture (11), medicine (5), law (5) and commerce (4). Returnees from Japan numbered 101, those from the United States 82.
Dr. Wu Ta-you, chairman of the National Science Council, said the government will send more scholarship students abroad as a measure to combat the brain drain. Such students will be obligated to return after reaching their educational goals. The first group of 150 will be chosen in competitive examinations.
Dr. Wu said scientists will return to Taiwan only if pay and research facilities are adequate. Under a new plan to appoint research professors and associate professors, pay will be raised to the level of US$250 to US$300 a month for the former and US$150 to $200 a month for the latter. Appointments will be for three years. They will not be announced so as to avoid hurt feelings in the academic community.
Three priority tasks have been assigned in the nation's 12-year science development program: (1) strengthening of science education at all levels, (2) increased research in the basic sciences and (3) enhancement of the scientific approach to economics, agriculture, medicine, industry and communications.
About 72,000 high school graduates will compete July 3 and 4 for 24,300 first-year seats in colleges and universities. The number of contestants is up by 4,000 and the number of openings by 1,000. Registration will be held June 2-4. The joint examination will be given in Taipei, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung and Taitung.
New overseas Chinese students admitted to institutions of higher learning this year will total 2,300. The openings include 682 at National Taiwan University, 235 at National Chengchi University, 280 at National Taiwan Normal University and 240 at Provincial Chengkung University.
Since 1961, overseas Chinese students have totaled more than 26,000 and nearly 13,000 have returned to their countries of residence. Current enrollment is nearly 9,000.
Approved for establishment in Nantou county, central Taiwan, was the island's first school for backward students. The institution will have both government and private support.
Community planning is taking a giant step forward with plans for the development of seven new communities to accommodate 679,000 people. Four of the locations are near Taipei and the other three are in the Tainan-Kaobsiung area of the south.
The government has six regional development plans covering northern Taiwan, Taichung, Tainan-Kaohsiung, Hsinchu-Miaoli, Chiayi-Yunlin and Taitung-Hualien.
Vocational schools are turning out only 12,000 graduates annually to supply a need of 46,000, the Labor Department of the Ministry of Interior reported. Short-term industrial training is urged to close the gap.
Seventy-two good men and women were honored for their good deeds at ceremonies in the Taipei city auditorium. President Chiang Kai-shek sent a message of congratulation. He said that the service of those singled out for commendation has helped to correct the imbalance between the spiritual side of life and materialism. The good men and women participated in a panel discussion on ways to promote social progress.
More than 2 million people have been benefited by social service programs of the Taiwan Provincial Government. Included are social insurance, job placement, relief, emergency assistance, medical service, housing, social service, vocational training and community development.
Labor insurance now covers 816,000 persons and has helped 4 million. Benefits exceed the contributions of employers and employees by a substantial amount. A revision of the law will increase covered employment and the number of beneficiaries.
Unemployment insurance is contemplated for 1971. The Ministry of Interior has made a study of programs in other countries.
The housing committee of the Taipei City Government has set a goal of 4,000 dwelling units for squatters this year. Last year's goal was 4,100 but because of inadequate funds and difficulties of land acquisition, only 966 units were actually made available.
General Kao Kuei-yuan, chief of the general staff of the Chinese Armed Forces, announced that married servicemen may apply for long-term, low-interest loans to buy houses. Priority will be given on a basis of points awarded for service merit, seniority, position, age and number of dependents. Size of the house will be in accordance with rank.
The Control Yuan, government's watchdog, said not enough has been done to house the population. Only 86,500 units of public housing were built between 1955 and 1968, the Yuan said, and rent is taking 35 per cent of family income. A program to regard housing as a productive investment rather than welfare was recommended by the Controllers.
Government has earmarked US$111.4 million for agricultural development this year. These are some of the goals:
—Farm production of 2,620,000 metric tons of rice, 4,025,000 tons of sweet potatoes, 150,000 tons of peanuts, 874,000 tons of sugar, 710,640 tons of bananas, 390,000 tons of pineapple and 31,050 tons of mushrooms.
—Hog production of 4,134,000 head and poultry of 50,885,000 head.
—Fisheries production of 632,300 tons, divided as follows: 356,000 from deep-sea operations, 186,000 from offshore fishing, 25,000 tons from coastal waters and 63,000 tons from fish culture.
—Forestry output of 1,478,000 cubic meters.
Farm mechanization will be encouraged by the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction. A Japanese farm management specialist, Dr. Zyuro Kudo, studied the Taiwan situation and reported that farm machinery is too expensive and credit too costly. He pointed out that Japan has 3 million power tillers (56.6 for every 100 farmers), whereas Taiwan has only 25,000 (2.4 for every 100 farmers).
JCRR said that with the declining rural labor force, mechanization is a must in rice cultivation.
Also coming in for increasing agricultural attention is Taiwan slopeland. About 1.6 million hectares of the Taiwan total of 5,596,000 hectares are considered a target for development.
JCRR was looking into the problem of low winter vegetable prices. One specialist found turnips selling for NT7 cents a catty versus production cost of 40 cents. Possible solutions are export to Japan and cold storage or freezing.
Kingshan Farms is now freezing 100 metric tons of vegetables for Taipei sale in the summer, when the supply is low and the price is high. Trial sales of last year were successful but limited. Retailers are hesitant to buy freezers until they are sure of strong demand.
Fisheries production was 563,000 metric tons in 1969, well over target despite two typhoons.
Rainbow trout have been successfully raised at a Provincial Maritime Research Institute station at Kukuan on the East-West Cross-Island Highway. Fish farms can be supplied with fry. Grown trout, which the Japanese raise for the American market, weigh from 2½ to 7 pounds.
Progress also has been made in the artificial breeding of gray mullet. This fish is now caught off Kaohsiung in the winter for its roe, which is considered a delicacy (karasumi) in Japan.
In Taipei at the time of Vice President Agnew's visit was another distinguished American, Hugh Scott, the minority leader in the Senate. He stayed four days and saw President Chiang Kai-shek and other government leaders. The United States will continue to support the Republic of China morally as well as militarily, he said. A collector of Chinese ceramics, Senator Scott visited the National Palace Museum and accepted a post as adviser to the National Museum of History.
Foreign Minister Wei Tao-ming told the foreign relations committee of the Legislative Yuan that 68 countries have diplomatic relations with the Republic of China versus 45 for the Chinese Communists. Reporting on the last six months of 1969, he said the ROC had signed 11 bilateral pacts or agreements and entered into 4 multilateral treaties. Foreign dignitaries visiting Taiwan totaled 721. There are 38 agricultural or other technical missions serving in 34 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America, he said. Personnel totals 1,330.
More salt will be purchased from South Vietnam—possibly 100,000 tons this year—as a result of agreements reached at the sixth conference on Sino-Vietnamese cooperation in Saigon. Vietnam will buy more Taiwan sugar. Further technical assistance will be extended to the Vietnamese, especially in the establishment of industries.
Although the Republic of China lost a squadron of Phantom jets as a result of U.S. Congressional disagreement, it still emerged with a squadron of F104 Starfighters and two squadrons of F100s. The Pentagon decided to make the planes available to beef up the Chinese Air Force against Chinese Communists MIGs. The ROC will pay for reconditioning the mothballed F100s, which are faster than the F86 that has been the workhorse of the CAF.
The Chinese Army has been repairing and reconditioning trucks and M113 armored personnel carriers for the American forces in Vietnam. Servicing of the M113s was carried out ahead of schedule and was praised by U.S. officers receiving them.
Seventy-three distinguished servicemen and 74 political staff members of the Armed Forces were honored in Taipei. They received flowers from pretty movie stars, paraded through the streets and were cited at a municipal rally. This annual event gives recognition to those who serve the nation with distinction while in uniform.
Reporting on its15-year history, the Vocational Assistance Commission for Retired Servicemen said 185,833 veterans have been helped in resettlement during that period. Among the 95 operations of VACRS are the following:
—Sixteen farms with an area of 7,351 hectares.
—Two forestry teams.
—Fishing fleet, fish culture ponds, dairy farm and poultry ranches.
—Fourteen factories.
—Bus company with 200 vehicles, a mine, a quarry and a marble plant.
—Engineering agency employing 7,000 and engaging in large construction projects and roadbuilding at home and abroad.
—Hospitals with 13,000 beds.
—Nine veterans' homes with accommodations for 13,649.
—Rehabilitation and vocational training facilities.
VACRS was headed by Chiang Ching-kuo, now the deputy prime minister, in its early stages. The present chief is Chao Tse-yu.
Japanese harbor construction specialists headed by Yonekichi Yanazawa have reported to the Taiwan Provincial Government on the feasibility of making Wuchi, on the coast near Taichung in central Taiwan, into the island's fourth international port. They found that there are no insurmountable obstacles.
Work on the development of Wuchi will begin early next year. The whole project will take a decade to complete but commercial use may be made of the new port beginning in 1973.
Kaohsiung is to be developed as a container shipping center for Southeast Asia. In the first stage, pier No.1 has already been converted to container use. In the second stage, piers Nos. 40, 41 and 42 will be opened to semi-container use. This project is scheduled for completion in the spring.
In the third stage, three permanent container piers will be opened. Nos. 43 and 44 are scheduled for completion in 1971. They will be fully automated with pierside cranes to handle containers. Construction of the other two piers will be timed to meet demand.
China Airlines began transpacific service February 2 with two new Boeing 707s. The eastbound route is to San Francisco via Tokyo and Honolulu. Westbound planes will stop at Anchorage and Tokyo. Each plane will make three roundtrips a week, which means a departure every day except Sunday.
Mayor Henry Kao of Taipei and other VIPs were guests on the inaugural flight. Welcoming the first regularly scheduled CAL 707 at San Francisco International Airport was Mayor Joseph L. Alioto. The occasion kicked off a San Francisco China Week in which Taipei and San Francisco became sister cities.
The CAL 707s have interior decoration in the Chinese style and will serve the best Chinese cuisine. Pilots are veterans of the Chinese Air Force and many of the hostesses are from CAF families.
In only 10 years, CAL has become the third Asian transpacific carrier (after JAL and PAL) and one of the principal regional airlines. With three Boeing 727s, CAL flies north to Osaka, Tokyo and Seoul, south to Manila and southwest to Hongkong, Bangkok and Saigon. Service to Jakarta probably will begin this spring and CAL hopes to become an around-the-world airline in 1971 or 1972.
Two new YS11A turboprops have been obtained for domestic flights. These include two roundtrips daily between Taipei and Kaohsiung, one roundtrip between Taipei and Tainan, six roundtrips between Taipei and Hualien, four roundtrips between Kaohsiung and Makung in the Penghu (Pescadores islands), and a single roundtrip daily between Makung and Taipei, Makung and Tainan and Makung and Taichung. Taitung service will be resumed as soon as airport construction is completed.
The one-way fare from Taipei to Kaohsiung is US$11 for a distance of about 210 miles. Roundtrip is just under US$20. One-way student fare between Taipei and San Francisco will be US$280, pending government approval.
With its new 707s and YS11As, CAL is phasing out two-engined C46s and C47s. DC4s and Lockheed Constellations are used on some flights. The other scheduled domestic carrier is Far Eastern Air Transport Corporation, which flies Dart-Herald turboprops in Taipei-Kaohsiung and Taipei-Hualien service.
Domestic air travel is booming. The flight from Taipei to Hualien takes only 35-45 minutes versus a day by bus or a combination of train and bus. The surface trip is slow because the Central Range lies between Taipei and the east coast. The fastest train takes five hours for the Taipei-Kaohsiung run versus an hour via turboprop.
Kaohsiung is already an international airport for cargo. International passenger flights are expected to begin in mid-1970. Work is proceeding on the Kaohsiung terminal and the highway between the airport and the city. Taiwan's second largest city has many new hotels awaiting the tourist influx. When international passenger flights begin, it will be possible for a tourist to enter the country at Taipei and exit at Kaohsiung, or vice versa. By tourism comparison, Taipei and Kaohsiung will become in Taiwan as Tokyo and Osaka in Japan.
Taipei has a new elite airport police of 178 specially trained officers. Suboffices will be established at Kaohsiung and Hualien. Passport inspection will be handled in addition to security.
The Taiwan Garrison Command has opened a 24-hour exit and entry station on Po Ai Road in Taipei. Processing ordinarily will take a day but emergency service can be given if warranted.
Another new service for travelers is that of a radio and television licensing counter at Taipei International Airport. Licenses may be obtained in 15 minutes once customs is cleared.
Planning will start soon for the new Taoyuan International Airport to serve Taipei. Completion is expected in the mid-1970s. Taoyuan, which will be about an hour's drive from downtown Taipei, will handle the supersonic aircraft of the latter half of this decade. Seven airport engineering firms have been invited to submit preliminary designs.
Taiwan Railway Administration's new Chu Kuang Express started west coast mainline service in early February. TRA is doubletracking the west coast line between Changhua and Tainan. When the project is completed in October, this stretch of mainline will be able to handle 240 passenger runs daily instead of the present 135.
Fencing is being installed along the mainline to keep animals and people off the tracks. Straying cattle and the like have caused delays in the past.
To improve train service in southern Taiwan, express trains from central Taiwan soon will reach Pingtung without stopping at Kaohsiung. Forty-four new diesel locomotives purchased under a World Bank loan have arrived in Taiwan. More than 300 new cars have arrived or will be in service soon.
Taiwan will spend US$78.3 million on railways, highways and harbors in 1970.
Tolls will be collected to help pay for the northsouth west coast expressway that will be constructed in stages during the 1970s. An American highway engineering firm win make recommendations as to the amount. Tolls were frowned upon at first for fear they would reduce use of the expressway. Subsequent studies indicated that this would be a short-term phenomenon and that commercial users would come to use the high-speed road in order to save time and reduce wear and tear on equipment.
These were Taipei progress notes:
—Construction projects totaling about US$20 million will be undertaken this year. Drainage will be improved and 13 major road extensions or improvements undertaken.
—Flood control planning for the Greater Taipei area will be completed in mid-1970.
—One of the city's first modern sewage systems will be completed in the suburb of Shihlin by 1972. A waste disposal plant will be built, a lake created and environmental sanitation improved for 100,000 residents.
—Water service expansion will supply 1.8 million people with 581,000 tons of water daily by 1973. A reservoir will be built on the Hsintien River for storage and flood control.
—Taipei construction totaled US$60 million last year in 6,954 projects.
—Taipei's main post office has a newly opened all-night service desk.
—Tokens soon will replace tickets and cash payments on bus lines. Municipal and four private lines will use the same tokens.
—Census of motor vehicles in Taipei shows 129,817—35,220 of them autos. The rest are motorcycles and scooters. Taxis total 8,882, buses 1,928 and trucks 4,591.
—A stadium probably will be built in Shihlin for the 1972 or 1974 Asian Games.
—Five branches will be established by the City Bank at Yangmingshan, Langshan, Yenping, Sungshan and Chingmei. The bank earned more than US$1,250,000 in its first eight months of operation.
Mourned widely by the free Chinese was Miss Gladys Aylward, the "small woman" of "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" fame, who died unexpectedly at the age of 67. She was stricken with pneumonia and passed away less than 24 hours after addressing a group of American women.
British-born Miss Aylward came to China as a missionary in the 1920s. She served in Yangcheng, a remote area of Shansi, became a Chinese citizen and dedicated herself to caring for orphans. Since her arrival in Taiwan in 1953, she had mothered somewhere around 500 children. She herself admitted to having lost count.
Ironically, Miss Aylward died just before the first visit to Taipei of Ingrid Bergman, who played the missionary in the film "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness" 11 years ago. Miss Bergman had looked forward to meeting the diminutive missionary.