Stowaways from China may be flown home in the future, if they or their relatives can provide legal identification and can come up with air fare for the flight home, said Cheng An-kuo (鄭安國), Vice-Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會).
The announcement comes just as the repatriation of Chinese stowaways is set to resume.
Repatriation of illegal Chinese stowaways, one part of the Kinmen Agreement, was put on hold after President Lee's Teng-hui's"state-to-state" remarks last year, but is scheduled to resume before Chinese New Year.
Three hundred stowaways are waiting on Matsu island for weather in the Taiwan Straits to clear in order to make the trip home in time for the holidays.
The exchange was scheduled to take place last Friday. But high winds and stormy seas made sea travel unsafe. Officials will try again this week.
Around 1,509 Chinese stowaways are currently being detained in three processing centers, in Hsinchu, Matsu and Ilan.
The MAC surveyed the 720 stowaways in the Hsinchu Center, and found that 96 would choose to fly home if given the option to do so.
In return for the 300 stowaways soon to be returned, China has agreed to repatriate six fugitives wanted in Taiwan.
Charges against these people range from gun smuggling to fraud.
An official from the Criminal Investigation Bureau (
These include the extradition of criminals from China.
An increase in cross-strait cooperation against criminal activities.
Plus, a crack down on illegal gun running, drug smuggling and money laundering.
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