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Kinmen official makes `small three links' tourism plea

Allowing Taiwanese tourists to use the "small three links" to travel to China will greatly help Kinmen achieve its aim of transforming itself from a military bastion into a prime tourist destination, Kinmen County Commissioner Lee Chu-feng (李炷烽) said on Friday.

Kinmen County is eager to pursue economic progress after the number of troops stationed there has declined as a result of a government policy change, and Lee urged the central government to include tourists from Taiwan proper within the scope of the "small three links" to help Kinmen better develop its economy.

"Such an opening would definitely help Kinmen boost its economic development," Lee said, adding that he would continue appealing Kinmen's case with Taipei and calling for its quick approval.

By the end of this year, only approximately 2,000 troops will be left on Kinmen, a development that is expected to further adversely impact Kinmen's dwindling economy, he said.

Initiated in January 2001 by the government to help offset the lack of direct transportation links across the Taiwan Strait, the "small three links" refer to direct shipping and trade services maintained between Taiwan's Kinmen and Matsu islands and China's Fujian Province ports of Xiamen and Mawei.

When the "small three links" were inaugurated only people with household registrations on Kinmen or Matsu were allowed to travel between Taiwan and China via the links, although those regulations have since been gradually eased.

Quanzhou in Fujian was also added to the links last year.

Veterans Affairs Commission (VAC) Chairman Hu Cheng-pu (胡鎮埔) said last week that the VAC would set up service centers on Kinmen and Matsu to assist veterans and their dependents traveling to and from China via the "small three links."

He noted that the government eased the regulations on March 31 to allow veterans born anywhere in China, instead of only Fujian Province, to travel directly from the two islands to and from China.

"The VAC attaches great importance to the new policy and is considering how best to serve the veterans," he said.

He noted that there are still more than 500,000 veterans in the nation and said he expects more of them will travel to China through this "economical" and "convenient" channel.

"Where there are needs, there will be service," Hu said, adding that the service centers will be set up at wharves on the two islands as soon as possible.
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