Tang lists top 15 economic issues

Fresh off the injured reserve list, Premier Tang Fei (唐飛) hit the ground running yesterday, vowing to make the nation's economic and financial hurdles a top priority.

At a coordination meeting yesterday, Tang outlined what he regards as the top 15 economic and financial issues requiring immediate attention. The premier said that underlying economic uncertainty has drawn widespread public concern recently.

Tang said that he had instructed government officials to submit reports to him addressing the financial woes facing the country. From those reports, Tang compiled his top 15 list.

Among the issues Tang highlighted were plans to open direct links between Taiwan and China; whether to continue construction of the fourth nuclear power plant and how to minimize the impact of WTO entry on Taiwan businesses.

The reports are expected to provide Tang and other officials more time to prepare for interpellations from lawmakers early next month in the Legislative Yuan.

Tang returned to a normal working schedule yesterday after being in and out of the hospital during his recovery from chest surgery. He underwent surgery on April 16 to remove a benign tumor from his chest.

Tang won an agreement from lawmakers back in late May 30 to postpone the interpellation for a month until early July to give him enough time to recover from the surgery.