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Cabinet won't ax calendar without public's support

The nation's Republican (or minguo, 民國) calendar will not be abandoned in favor of the Gregorian calendar unless the majority of the public agrees to the plan, the Cabinet said yesterday.

"This does not concern politics. It is only a proposal to help us and our country communicate with foreign friends more easily," Government Information Office Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (鄭文燦) said.

Reports

Cheng made the remarks yesterday morning in response to a story in the Chinese-language daily the United Daily News, which reported that the Cabinet had given official notice to the Ministry of the Interior asking it to begin evaluating the proposal to change the calendar system.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet's Research, Development and Evaluation Commission said there would be no difficulty in carrying out such a policy, but that political issues could get in the way that might be difficult for the government to overcome.

Dismissal

"We have yet issued any notice to the ministry. In addition, it is not the ministry's job to evaluate the proposal. It is the commission's, actually," Cheng said. "The commission has completed its report and submitted it to the Cabinet. The premier asked that for a slowdown, review and re-consideration of the entire proposal because it also concerns a lot of changes on related mechanisms. If we want to do it, we will have to do it gradually."

The idea to change the calendar system was first put forward by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺) while she was questioning Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) on the legislative floor on Feb. 24. She said that using both the Republican and Gregorian calendars could be confusing, especially to foreigners.

Su expressed support for the change.

Majority rules

Speaking on behalf of the premier, Cheng said that more time and money -- as well as the support of the majority of Taiwan's citizens -- would be required before the Cabinet changes the calendar system.

"We will handle this case carefully and gradually," Cheng added.
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