The ministry of digital development might not have all of its staff members in place when it opens in July after the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus filed for a reconsideration of an amendment to the National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法).
The amendment, passed on Tuesday last week, is the legal basis for the transfer of some departments at the National Communications Commission (NCC) to the new ministry.
The KMT caucus proposed reconsidering the bill after expressing concern that the NCC’s draft digital communications act, which would regulate multinational online platforms, could suppress freedom of expression.
The caucus’ unexpected move has prevented the amendment from taking effect and disrupted progress on the establishment of the digital development ministry.
Following an emergency meeting with Cabinet officials, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus said that it would not put the proposal to a vote.
If the DPP put the proposal to a vote, the KMT would likely file reconsiderations on more important bills that were passed last week, including the central government’s general budget and a special budget for the military, a legislative expert said.
A government source said that the establishment of the digital development ministry requires a transfer of personnel and resources from at least five government agencies: the NCC, the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the National Development Council, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and the Executive Yuan’s information and communication security department.
Given the changes, the ministry would not begin operations until July, and NCC personnel and resources would not be in place when it opens due to the KMT’s “legislative roadblock,” they said.
The ministry would also be tasked with overseeing government information security, digital services and data management, as well as aiding the development of industries related to the digital economy, the Executive Yuan said.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency yesterday launched a gift box to market honey “certified by a Formosan black bear” in appreciation of a beekeeper’s amicable interaction with a honey-thieving bear. Beekeeper Chih Ming-chen (池明鎮) in January inspected his bee farm in Hualien County’s Jhuosi Township (卓溪) and found that more than 20 beehives had been destroyed and many hives were eaten, with bear droppings and paw prints near the destroyed hives, the agency said. Chih returned to the farm to move the remaining beehives away that evening when he encountered a Formosan black bear only 20m away, the agency said. The bear
Chinese embassy staffers attempted to interrupt an award ceremony of an international tea competition in France when the organizer introduced Taiwan and displayed the Republic of China flag, a Taiwanese tea farmer said in an interview published today. Hsieh Chung-lin (謝忠霖), chief executive of Juxin Tea Factory from Taichung's Lishan (梨山) area, on Dec. 2 attended the Teas of the World International Contest held at the Peruvian embassy in Paris. Hsieh was awarded a special prize for his Huagang Snow Source Tea by the nonprofit Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA). During the ceremony, two Chinese embassy staffers in attendance
RSS