Lien seeks referendum in Kaohsiung on direct links

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) said in Kaohsiung yesterday that he will push for a referendum to allow Kaohsiung residents to decide whether their city should open direct air and shipping links with China.

Lien, the presidential candidate of the opposition "pan-blue alliance," said if he is elected, he will see to it that Kaohsiung residents cast their referendum votes for the opening of direct air and shipping links between Kaohsiung and China as part of the effort to rejuvenate the port city and help generate job opportunities.

Lien made the promise during a ceremony marking the establishment of a campaign support group of residents living in the Tsoying-Nantsu district.

He derided President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) recent spate of moves seeking to rewrite the Constitution and initiate a "defensive referendum" as electioneering gimmicks contributing nothing to the people's welfare and only serving to provoke Beijing.

In addition, Lien's party yesterday proposed a bill to cut legislative seats by about half -- part of a plan to revamp the political system and make it more efficient.

The KMT proposed that legislative seats be cut from the current 223 seats to 113 seats by 2007, with at least 35 seats being held by women.

KMT Legislator Lee Chia-chin (李嘉進) said the proposal was made in response to public demand for a smaller and more efficient legislature.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has also called for a smaller legislature. But the DPP wanted to make the change in a new constitution that would have been approved by a nationwide referendum.

But the DPP's referendum proposal was rejected by the opposition coalition, which includes the KMT and the People First Party (PFP).

Under a referendum law passed last week, a vote could only be called to endorse constitutional changes first approved by the legislature.