Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
The new policies include lifting restrictions on foreign white-collar workers over the next few months, along with easing education and health care rules for dependents of foreigners. The plan is designed to assist high-tech and traditional industrial industries in strengthening their human resources, Chang said. In order to facilitate the plan, the Council of Labor Affairs is going to amend the Employment Service Law (
Chang also said that the government plans to complete the southern stretch of the country's third extra-high voltage power line by June 2002 and a reservoir by 2008 to ensure a stable supply of water and electricity.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
In an effort to boost activity in the debt market, authorities will also look to repeal the 0.1 percent education transaction tax levied on corporate bonds, a tax long criticized by finance professionals for deterring corporate bond market trading.
Chang said the Executive Yuan has instructed the Ministry of Finance to complete an amendment of the Income Tax Law, which would extend the current annual tax filing deadline from the end of March to end of May. Also, taxpayers may be able to file their tax forms over the Internet in the future.
Chang stressed that from March the general public should be able to see the benefits of these policies.
Meanwhile, the administration is going to conduct a survey on the demand for Chinese professionals by the domestic high-tech industry, and deregulate limited numbers of such professionals allowed in the country in the future.
Meanwhile, in order to cope with Taiwan's entry into the WTO and the trend of internationalization and liberalization, the administration is currently amending the Land Law, which would deregulation the current restrictions on investing in domestic real estate and land by foreigners. The administration is also going to simplify the procedures for overseas Chinese and foreigners' applications on their investment in domestic real estate. The administration is also going to evaluate the timing and conditions for Chinese to invest in domestic real estate.
"The above policies are only a fraction of the conclusions made during the national economic development meeting," Chang said. "The 116 conclusions from the meeting have been separated into 201 proposals, and put into effect already. The deadlines for these conclusions have been set up by various ministries. The administration will also monitor the progress on these new policies."
Meanwhile, the DPP invited some 600 local businessmen for a gathering yesterday, the first time since it became a ruling party, and hoped to drum up business support for the government's latest economic stimulus package.
Lin Kun-chung (
"[It] fully indicates the government has not only paid attention to conclusions reached at the national economic development conference held in January but is also willing to carry out these conclusions including easing restrictions for foreign investment in the domestic real-estate market ... It would help strengthen Taiwan's economic climate," Lin said.
Also in favor of the govern-ment's efforts, Frank Huang (
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