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KINMEN RESIDENTS FLUNK 'MINI THREE LINKS' POLICY IN SURVEY

2003-12-27 15:15:54

    Taipei, Dec. 27 (CNA) Residents of the outlying island of Kinmen have given the government's "mini three links" policy with mainland China a failing grade three years after its implementation, a survey released Saturday showed.

    The poll, conducted by Ming Chuan University, showed that the residents gave the policy a grade of 56.6 points. This was below the passing level of 60 points and even lower than the 58 points assessed last year.

    Professor Fan Chung-yuan, who coordinated the poll and interpreted the results, said that the reasons for the low score for direct trade, postal and transportation links between Kinmen and Matsu and mainland China were multivarious.

    He said the complicated application procedures, the fact that the two outlying islands have not been allowed to serve as transshipment centers between Taiwan proper and mainland China, the conservative attitude of the central government's policy, and the small contribution of the policy to the economic development of Kinmen and Matsu are all factors.

    However, even though the residents flunked the policy, 45.5 percent felt that it should remain in place, showing that they still have some expectations for its success.

    The poll showed that nearly 46 percent said that the "mini three links" have not contributed to the economic development on Kinmen and nearly 50 percent said that once there is a direct transportation link between Taiwan and mainland China, it will be detrimental to Kinmen's development,

    In addition, nearly 60 percent said that they worry that social order will become even worse, up from 45 percent last year.

    On the issue of tourism, 43 percent said that Kinmen can attract Chinese tourists, although the quality of services and medical facilities should be upgraded. Under the current system, there are three passenger vessels operating between Kinmen and Xiamen, Fujian province four days a week with an average passenger volume of 42 percent.

    To help the development of the outlying islands, Kinmen residents said passenger numbers should be increased. Half of them said that the government should allow people on Taiwan to travel to mainland China via the outlying islands of Kinmen or Matsu and authorize the Kinmen County Government to talk about related issues concerning the "mini three links."

    The poll was conducted between Nov. 24 and Dec. 3, with 1,001 effective samples collected and carries a margin of error of 2.55 percent.

(By Lilian Wu)

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