An overhaul of the "small three links" can now begin after the passage of amendments to cross-strait laws, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday.
"The MAC was ready to undertake an overall review of the small three links once lawmakers approved amendments to the Statute Governing the Relations between the People of Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (
The amended cross-strait regulations completed the legal basis for the "small three links," referring to direct transportation between Kinmen, Matsu and China, inaugurated on December 13, 2000 in accordance with the Regulation on Offshore Development (
The "small three links" should return to the jurisdiction of the cross-strait statute after the finalizing of legal requirements in the amended regulations, Chen told reporters in a regular news briefing.
Policy modifications would be made following public hearings on current schedules for public and goods transportation, Chen said.
The MAC hoped to upgrade the status of the links to a cross-strait exchange last year, while the current approaches focuses merely on the development of Kinmen and Matsu.
Constructions of offshore islands must tie in the development projects of Taiwan. The operation of the links could further the prosperity of Kinmen and Matsu only when it plays a supplementary role to promote local land and construction projects and business incentives of preferential duties, Chen explained.
"The MAC would make adjustments to this policy on the proviso that the interests of Taiwan and offshore islands would be kept in balance and that domestic security and public order would be safeguarded," Chen said.
Public hearings for the assessment, which would be held both in Taiwan and on Kinmen and Matsu, would commence as soon as next week, Chen said.
But the MAC insisted that the series of islands falling within Penghu County would be excluded from the new rules.
"Applications from Penghu for such exchanges with China should be handled as a special case since the nature of relations between Penghu and China is different to those between Kinmen, Matsu and China," Chen said.
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