Taiwan Today

Little juggernaut continues to roll Solo home runs by pitcher Li Shu-shin and Chen Sheng-dean helped Hualien of the Republic of China to a 4-3 victory over Tampa, Fla., and the fourth straight Little League Baseball World Series Championship for a Chinese team. Li, a 5-foot-8 130-pound righthander, went the distance. He struck out 10 and walked two in pitching a four-hitter. Hualien's first two runs came in the first inning and were unearned. Three errors, the only ones of the game, hurt Tampa. Wang Kuang-shi opened the game by reaching first on an error by third baseman Darryl Myers. He was forced at second by Lo Kai-hwa, who scored on a single by Li and an outfield error by Andre Mack. Li scored on an error by first baseman Dallas Brown. Tyrone Griffin, Tampa's shortstop, hit a bases-empty home run in the first inning. The homers by Li and Chen were back-to-back blows in the third inning. Tampa got its second run in the fourth when Clayton Wilson opened with a double and scored on a single by Walker after two were out. Tampa scored again in the botton of the sixth and last inning. Gary Sheffield led off with a dou­ble, moved to third on a ground out and scored when Derrick Bell grounded out to first. This was the Republic of China's ninth world series cham­pionship in 10 appearances. It was the second time the Republic of China has won the series four years in a row. Student total tops 4.57 million The student population of Taiwan exceeded 4.57 million in 1979, according to the Ministry of Education. There are 4,950 schools with 164,746 teachers. Up to 1979, there were 101 colleges and 192 research institutes with 329,603 students, a 13.42 fold increase in schools and 48.45 fold increase in students since 1950. To cope with economic devel­opment, the educational system has changed. More vocational schools have been established for junior high school graduates. By 1979, the number of vocational school students was nearly double that of high school stu­dents: 328,395 to 181,408. To promote international cultural interflow, the ministry has granted scholarships to foreign students. The number of foreign students in 1979 was 3,179 from 54 countries and areas. Secondary schools will need 4,000 new teachers annually for the next 10 years. Junior high schools will need 1,500, senior high schools 800 and vocational schools 1,600. The Ministry of Education will adopt a new policy of recruiting teachers to execute the "ex­tension of national education based on vocational training." Population growth of 1.2 per cent set The government hopes to lower population growth from last year's 1.86 per cent to 1.2 per cent in 1989. The target is set in the 10­-year manpower development program of the Council for Economic Planning and Development. With a population approach­ing 18 million, Taiwan is one of the most densely populated areas of the world. Other targets of the man­power development plan: - Unemployment rate below 1.3 per cent. - Strengthened vocational education. - More science and technical education. - Improved job placement services. - Higher labor productivity as a result of improved incentives and working conditions. College exam system changed The Ministry of Education will create a permanent agency in charge of the joint college entrance examinations. The decision was made at a meeting of university presidents and deans of study. Education Minister Chu Hwei-sen was the chairman. Kuo Wei-fan, president of Na­tional Taiwan Normal University, suggested 100 persons would be needed to man the agency. Chu feared appropriations could be provided for only 20. Entrance examinations have been handled by a committee headed by presidents of participat­ing universities by rotation. The committee has been disbanded after each exam. The new agency also will study examination improvements. Minister Chu confirmed that questions in the 1981 exam will not be taken from textbooks alone. An English composition of 400 to 500 words will be required for the first time. Aviation industry honors heroine Before an applauding audi­ence of 180 persons from 30 countries in Wellington, New Zealand, a shy, attractive 21-year-old stewardess of China Airlines, Wang Wen-hua, won recognition for bravery last February when she helped evacuate passengers from a burning plane at Manila Airport. Miss Wang was presented with a medal for heroism at the Christ­-church Town Hall as part of an In­ternational Flying Safety Seminar. The president of the Flying Safety Foundation, John H. Enders, said the medal is the high­est such honor which can be awarded. Miss Wang suffered severe burns on her hands, back and legs as she dragged passengers from the burning aircraft. She is unable to use her hands as well as before. She also has received the Avia­tion Medal of the ROC for bravery, devotion and self-sacrifice. Mother's Day the Chinese way Sixty-two scholars urged the Ministry of Interior to designate the second day of the fourth moon of the lunar calendar as Mother's Day. The day-birthday of Men­cius's mother-was chosen by scholars because she is considered the paragon of Chinese mothers. Mencius, who lived in third and fourth centuries B.C., was a philosopher and champion of Confucianism. Mencius was not exactly a good pupil. His mother once cut a piece of cloth she was weaving to show him that learning abandoned midway is useless. Another tale goes that Mencius and his mother were living next door to a butcher. Mencius began to imitate the butcher. The mother moved to another place. Their new neighbor was an under­taker. Mencius began playing undertaker. The mother moved again, this time next to a school. Mencius began to learn in earnest. People in Taiwan now observe Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May, as Americans do. The scholars, headed by Archbishop Stanislaus Lokuang, president of Fu Jen Catholic Uni­versity, said that day has no significance for the Chinese people. The second day of the fourth moon fell on May 15 this year. The Ministry of Interior referred the proposal to the Na­tional Council on Chinese Cultural Renaissance. Red Hair Castle to be museum The National Museum of His­tory will take over Hung Mao Cheng (Red Hair Castle) at Tamsui and convert, it into a museum devoted to the history of Taiwan's early settlement. The decision was reached at a meeting chaired by Dr. Chen Chi­lu, minister without portfolio and archeologist. The Ministries of In­terior and Education, National Museum of History, Tourism Bureau, and National Property Bureau were represented. Red Hair Castle, or the Castle of San Domingo to Western geographers, is an important relic. The National Museum of His­tory has decided to display arti­facts and relics telling stories of early settlers. The Department of Civil Engineering, National Taiwan Uni­versity, will restore the castle as it was 350 years ago. The castle was built 1629 by the Spaniards, who occupied Tamsui briefly until they were driven out by the Dutch. Then the Dutch were expelled by a loyal Ming general, Koxinga. Subsequently Koxinga's de­scendants surrendered to the Manchus, who possessed the castle when it was rented to the British "in perpetuity" in 1867. The British government used it as consulate until 1972. Last June the British government agreed to return the old building to the Chinese government. U.S., ROC agree on cooperation The Republic of China and the United States concluded an agreement for scientific and scholarly cooperation. Konsin Shah, representative of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs in the U.S., and David Dean, chairman of the board of the American Institute in Taiwan, exchanged let­ters. On hand were Harvey Averchm, assistant director of the U.S. National Science Foundation in charge of scientific, technological and international affairs; Dr. Bodo Bartocha, director of the Division of International Programs of the U.S. National Science Foundation; Dr. Shu Shien-siu, chairman of the Republic of China's National Science Council; and officials of the U.S. National Science Founda­tion, the American Institute in Taiwan and the Coordination Council for North American Affairs. The aim of cooperation will be "to increase the contacts and cooperation between our scien­tists, engineers, scholars and institutions of research and higher learning and to provide them with more frequent opportunities to exchange information, ideas, skills and techniques, and to attack problems of common interest." The scope of the cooperation will cover all branches of science and technology, including social sciences, and will include coopera­tion between institutions; ex­ change of scientists, engineers and scholars; pursuit of joint research projects; consultations, exchange of information and discussion of cooperative activity. Cerebrovascular deaths 1 in 6 One in every six deaths is caused by cerebrovascular diseases, a survey conducted by the Na­tional Defense Medical Center showed. Since 1963 these have been the No.1 killer in Taiwan. The survey, commissioned by the National Science Council and undertaken with Dr. Chao Hsiu­-hsiung as director, showed that people between 15 and 24 accounted for 39.74 per cent of the deaths caused by cerebrovascular diseases in 1968. In 1977, the per­centage had risen to 55.4 per cent. Dr. Chao said the increase is closely connected with diet and life style. High blood pressure, obesity, and smoking contribute to the incidence. Cerebrovascular deaths rose from 47.78 persons per 100,000 people in 1952 to 76.16 per 100,000 in 1977, or an increase of 56.13 per cent. The survey showed men out­ numbered women slightly in the cerebrovascular deaths. Chao noted a relation be­tween the cerebrovascular diseases and weather. They hit people be­tween November and March, the winter season, more often than at other times. Men in southern Taiwan have less cerebrovascular disease than those in eastern, northern and central Taiwan. Women in southern and eastern Taiwan suffer less than those in northern and central Taiwan. People in urban areas are more susceptible than mountain dwellers. Teacher gets 3 millionth phone Minister of Communications Lin Chin-sheng presented a telephone set and extension to Huang Chin-pang to celebrate installation of the Republic of China's 3,000,000th telephone. NT$20,200, including installation and material charges, was returned to Huang and the month­ly charge waived for a year for the headmaster of Taken Primary School in Taoyuan. In 1946, Taiwan had 20,000 telephones. The number reached 1 million in 1975 and 2 million in 1978. A survey in 1978 showed there were only 38 countries and areas with 1 million phones and 17 countries and areas with 3 mil­lion phones. There is one telephone for every six persons in Taiwan. Model young people can rent housing The Taipei City Government approved a plan for the renting of "youth apartments" at the Chiyien New Villa public housing project in Peitou. Model young people between 20 and 35 with dependents and unable to buy homes of their own may be able to rent a condomini­um for 70 per cent of the regular rental. Seventy-two units will be made available for young people with the following qualifications: - Outstanding achievements in research, invention or social service. - Special skills or technologi­cal aptitude. - Award winners in interna­tional competitions. - Models of filial piety. The units will be 20 ping (one ping equals 36 square feet) or 24 ping.