The Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday that it is consulting with other government agencies on easing restrictions on the night-time activities of Chinese tour groups during their stay in Taiwan.
The council issued the statement amid reports that a second Chinese tour group is scheduled to arrive in Taiwan tomorrow from the US.
According to the reports, prospective Chinese tourists are worried about Taiwan's strict rules on their activities.
"We are discussing the issue with security authorities," said a MAC official. "We are confident that the rule requiring all members of Chinese tour groups to end their daily activities and return to hotels by 11pm during their stay will be eased soon."
Many members of the first Chinese tour group, composed of Chinese passport holders living in Japan, complained about those restrictions at the end of their visit earlier this month.
MAC Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) clarified the matter during a meeting with a group of Taiwanese businessmen with interests in China, telling them that the MAC has not banned Chinese tourists from leaving hotels after 11pm.
Tsai was also quoted as having said that the "curfew" might have been imposed by other agencies on the grounds that tour guides need a rest at night.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Bureau reiterated yesterday that Chinese tourists must still abide by the "group tour" and "group activity" rules.
Reports from San Francisco said a tour group composed of Chinese nationals with permanent residency in the US will arrive in Taipei tomorrow.
It will be the second Chinese tour group to visit Taiwan since the Taiwanese government opened its doors to overseas Chinese citizens traveling in groups at the beginning of this year.
The first group visited Taiwan from Feb. 5 to Feb. 9.
The San Francisco-based Phoenix Travel Agency has cooperated with Taipei's Richmond Travel Agency in organizing a six-day, five-night tour package for the 12-member group.
A Phoenix spokesman said members of the group include people working in high-tech industries and banks, as well as social group volunteers and housewives.
"All of them have permanent residency in the United States and have passed qualification screening by Taiwan's representative office here," he said. "And our Taipei partner has asked the Taipei Association of Travel Agents to apply for travel permits for our customers with the Taiwan authorities."
In addition visiting tourist attractions and historic sites in northern and central Taiwan, the spokesman said, the visitors also hope to see for themselves Taiwan's lifestyle, social customs and cultural development.
"We have arranged for them to visit noted sightseeing spots in northern and central Taiwan, including the National Palace Museum in suburban Taipei and scenic Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County," he added.
As part of its efforts to boost exchanges across the Strait, Taiwan began Jan. 1 allowing Chinese citizens with permanent foreign residency or Chinese students studying abroad to make pleasure trips to the nation, provided they travel in a group at all times.
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