President Chiang Kai-shek urged writers to strive to defend the heritage of Chinese culture from attack by the Chinese Communists and to honor peace, welfare, freedom and justice.
The President made his remarks in a message to the Sixth Armed Forces Writers' Conference.
Writers and officers in charge of literary works participated. These two themes were discussed:
- Uniting the power of literature at home and abroad for expansion of the anti-Mao and national salvation literary front and the acceleration of anti-Communist victory and national recovery.
- Cultivating youthful literary talent in the creation of great works, strengthening of literary activities at the basic level and the reinforcement of the armed forces' spiritual strength.
Chungshan Awards presented to 17
The Chungshan Cultural Foundation marked its eighth anniversary with presentation of 1973 Chungshan Awards for academic and literary works to 17 recipients.
The awards were created at the time of the Sun Yat-sen Centennial to honor the Founding Father of the Republic of China. The prizes of NT$50,000 and a plaque are awarded annually.
This year's awards went to the following persons:
- Chen Li-fu for The Political Philosophy of Mencius.
- Chen Lieh-fu for The Huk Rebellion and Social Reform in the Philippines.
- Liu Tang-jui for On the Spruce Family.
- Chang Huang for nine articles on electronics.
- Chou Ying-lung for Open Society and Closed Society.
- Chen Chao-nan for three articles on currency and international monetary theories.
- Chen Ju-chin for four articles on geology.
- Chang Wei-han for traditional poems.
- Tseng Shao-chieh for seal carvings.
- Huang Hsuan-wei for On Acting.
- Miss Kuang Juo-hsia for her collection of essays.
- Teng Wen-yi for biographical sketches.
- Lin Liang for Little Sun, a reader for children.
- Wang Ching-chih for his radio play Chin Han Feng Yun.
- Lin Sheng-hsi for musical compositions.
- Ho Heng-hsing for sculpture.
- Long Ching-san for composite photography.
Four public figures show their paintings
A joint exhibition of 150 Chinese paintings by four men well known in public life - George K. C. Yeh, Liu Yen-tao, Kao Yi-houng and Chen Tse-ho - was held at the China Gallery in Taipei.
The four have been good friends for more than 20 years and have found time to study art even though they are all busy.
George K. C. Yeh, minister without portfolio, former ambassador to the United States and former minister of foreign affairs, specializes in painting orchids and bamboo.
Liu Yen-tao, a member of the Control Yuan, specializes in landscapes and believes art should express the artist's nature.
Kao Yi-houng, professor at the College of Chinese Culture, specializes in flowers and peaches. He is an honorary member of the California Fine Arts Association.
Chen Tse-ho is known for his paintings of pine and cypress. He is a poet and calligrapher.
The biggest attraction in the exhibition was "Lofty Friendship" painted jointly by the four. Liu painted the rocks, Kao the flowering plum, Chen the pine and Yeh the bamboo.
Overseas scientists will be recruited
The National Science Council announced a new program for the recruitment of overseas scientists for teaching and research assignments in Taiwan.
Under the program to become effective next August, a senior scientist may receive a monthly subsistence allowance and research grant of up to "NT$40,000.
Both Chinese and foreign nationals are eligible.
Those recruited will be appointed to special chairs or as visiting research professors or specialists.
Candidates for special chairs and visiting research professorships must be full professors at a foreign university and have made significant contributions to science and technology within the last five years.
Candidates will be recommended by universities and colleges for screening and appointment by the council. Nominations will be accepted in February and March.
Dormitory planned for foreign students
The Ministry of Education is planning to build a large dormitory to house foreign students, Education Minister Y.S. Tsiang announced.
Foreign students are now quartered at International House or live in rented apartments.
Tsiang told the Legislative Yuan there were 540 foreign students from 30 countries studying in Taiwan.
Some students are from countries having cultural pacts with the Republic of China. They have been awarded Chinese government scholarship. The other students are here at their own expense.
Many foreign students come to study the Chinese language.
Because scholarships provided by the Chinese government are insufficient to cover living expenses, recipients often have had to find jobs, Tsiang said.
The government has raised the scholarship stipend from NT$2,000 to NT$3,000 per month for students from cultural treaty countries and from NT$1,000 to NT$2,000 per month for non-cultural treaty countries.
Biochemistry research unit to be opened
The Institute of Biochemistry of the Academia Sinica will be inaugurated at National Taiwan University next fall.
The inauguration was decided at a meeting at which Dr. Li Choh-hao, biochemist of world renown, presided.
The institute, a pet project of Dr. Li, will devote itself to the study of albumin during the initial stage.
Most members of the staff of biochemists have been Dr. Li's research assistants or students.
Dr. Li synthesized the growth hormone.
Lakes and Taroko are most popular
Tranquil, scenic Sun Moon Lake is a top tourist attraction (File photo)
Sun Moon Lake, Cheng Ching Lake near Kaohsiung and Taroko Gorge were Taiwan's most popular scenic resorts in a recent poll.
Cheng Ching Lake was voted the most popular but tourists returned to Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge more often.
Conducted by the Chinese Institute of Public Opinion in Taipei, the poll indicated that 90 per cent of visitors wanted to return.
Recommendation by relatives and friends is the major factor affecting visitors' decision of where to go.
Of the 1,200 visitors interviewed, 52 per cent said they had visited Cheng Ching Lake.
Other popular resorts are Green Lake, Wulai, Sun Moon Lake, Yehliu, Shihmen Dam, Pakua Mountain, Hsitou, Kenting Park, Taroko Gorge, Wushantou and Alishan.
Of every 10 sightseers, one was a foreigner. Most were businessmen, students and servicemen.
More than three-quarters of visitors said rates were reasonable, while 21.1 per cent said they should be reduced. No admission fees are required at Alishan and Taroko Gorge.
Red women cadres on TV look too good
A former Chinese Communist engineer criticized the characterization of Red women cadres in local TV dramas as "unrealistic."
"The Communist women cadres portrayed by TV actresses are very much different from the real ones," said Chou Kuang-han, a mining engineer who escaped from the mainland.
For instance, he said, Red women cadres wear well-cut, form-fitting uniforms on TV.
"On the mainland," he said, "all women are dressed in the same shapeless clothes of coarse materials."
The hair styles of the make-believe Red women cadres are attractive, Chou said.
Women on the mainland wear pigtails or the so-called "liberation hairdo" with the lower edge of the hair on the same level as the ear lobe.
In TV dramas, women cadres wear leather shoes, Chou noted. "In real life they wear cloth sneakers. They are lucky if they have a pair of socks."
China Youth Corps comes of age
Premier Chiang Ching-kuo visits China Youth Corps activities (File photo)
The China Youth Corps was 21 years old October 31.
A nonprofit-making private organization, the corps is providing wholesome activities for young people.
Biggest of corps-sponsored programs are summer and winter camps for students. Hundreds of thousands of young people participate.
The corps sponsors international youth activities and provides assistance to needy young people.
Premier Chiang Ching-kuo was director of the corps until last summer. Li Huan, formerly deputy director, is now director.
Clean bill of health for Little League
The Little League board of directors has found no reason to question the eligibility of the Republic of China team which won the 1973 World Series.
Taiwan officials admitted minor discrepancies and pledged to develop their program in close conformity with rules and regulations of the Little League, according to Peter J. McGovern, outgoing president.
At its annual meeting in Williamsport, Pa., the board found no basis for remors that the championship team from Tainan City might have violated Little League rules.
Some American officials complained that the Chinese boys were bigger and stronger and participated in the program year-round. This had led to Taiwan's winning of three straight titles, some said.
McGovern, who stepped down as Little League president after 21 years, was re-elected chairman of the board and named chief executive officer. He was succeeded as president by Dr. Creighton J. Hale.
The board reported the Chinese school teachers would no longer serve as coaches and training would be handed over to local adults after school hours.
The program for Taiwan was approved for 1974 subject to review after a year.
McGovern said the Taiwan program was investigated by a committee of Little League personnel from Japan, Hongkong and the Philippines.
The 1974 Far East regional tourney will be played at Zambpanga in the Philippines. This year's playoff was at Seoul.