President Chen Shui-bian (
There is only one water pipeline at present to the islet called Hsiaoliuchiu, off Pingtung County. The new pipeline could begin construction as early as next year, Chen said.
He noted that the first undersea water pipeline between Ping-tung County and Liuchiu township is 30-years old, and whenever it requires annual repair and maintenance the residents suffer a great deal of inconvenience.
He made the remarks while presiding over the inaugural journey of the second government-run ferry at Liuchiu's Tafu fishing port.
Chen, accompanied by Ping-tung Commissioner Su Chia-chuan (
Chen said that when he visited Liuchiu three years ago, he learned that another government-run ferry was needed between the township and Pingtung County.
He said that after the persis-tent efforts of the central and local governments, the appropriation of more than NT$80 million (US$2.35 million) and more than seven months of construction, he was happy to be able to have delivered on his promise.
"The government attaches great importance to the transportation infrastructure of Taiwan's outlying islands," Chen said.
He said he has instructed the Cabinet to plan construction projects for outlying islands between this year and 2006, and that the improvement of the supply of potable water in Liuchiu and the development of local tourism are part of that project.
He also said that a project to develop a sea park at Hsiaoliuchiu is proceeding smoothly, and that he hopes that fishermen can upgrade the value of fishery products with the guidance and assistance of the government to better fishermen's lives.
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a sea warning for Typhoon Fung-wong effective from 5:30pm, while local governments canceled school and work for tomorrow. A land warning is expected to be issued tomorrow morning before it is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, the agency said. Taoyuan, and well as Yilan, Hualien and Penghu counties canceled work and school for tomorrow, as well as mountainous district of Taipei and New Taipei City. For updated information on closures, please visit the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Web site. As of 5pm today, Fung-wong was about 490km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan's southernmost point.
Almost a quarter of volunteer soldiers who signed up from 2021 to last year have sought early discharge, the Legislative Yuan’s Budget Center said in a report. The report said that 12,884 of 52,674 people who volunteered in the period had sought an early exit from the military, returning NT$895.96 million (US$28.86 million) to the government. In 2021, there was a 105.34 percent rise in the volunteer recruitment rate, but the number has steadily declined since then, missing recruitment targets, the Chinese-language United Daily News said, citing the report. In 2021, only 521 volunteers dropped out of the military, the report said, citing
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Kaohsiung at 1pm today, the Central Weather Administration said. The epicenter was in Jiasian District (甲仙), 72.1km north-northeast of Kaohsiung City Hall, at a depth of 7.8km, agency data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage. The earthquake's intensity, which gauges the actual effects of a temblor, was highest in Kaohsiung and Tainan, where it measured a 4 on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale. It also measured a 3 in parts of Chiayi City, as well as Pingtung, Yunlin and Hualien counties, data showed.
Nearly 5 million people have signed up to receive the government’s NT$10,000 (US$322) universal cash handout since registration opened on Wednesday last week, with deposits expected to begin tomorrow, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. After a staggered sign-up last week — based on the final digit of the applicant’s national ID or Alien Resident Certificate number — online registration is open to all eligible Taiwanese nationals, foreign permanent residents and spouses of Taiwanese nationals. Banks are expected to start issuing deposits from 6pm today, the ministry said. Those who completed registration by yesterday are expected to receive their NT$10,000 tomorrow, National Treasury
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