Mainland Affairs Council

MAC Regular Press Briefing

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Contact windows for receiving mainland Chinese donations will be the SEF and the ROC Red Cross Society

QUESTION: Typhoon Morakot has severely damaged southern Taiwan. What are the MAC’s statistical figures on mainland Chinese donations? Is there a designated use for funds donated by the Mainland? Is there a credit mechanism for the future use of funds? Will there be explanations of this for the Mainland side?

DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:

■ At the present time, some of the Mainland donations are being handled by the SEF and some via the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China. Corporate board directors of the Mainland-based ARATS responded with a donation of 106 million renminbi (RMB) and HK$5 million on August 12. The SEF will be the contact window for receiving these funds. Besides this, some donated funds will be received by the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China. Currently, Mainland-based Taiwanese businessmen are continuing to get in contact with the SEF and forward their own donations. The Hong Kong government will also offer assistance, but because Hong Kong donations must go through the local Legislative Council process, there are currently no concrete figures in this regard. Nevertheless, the Hong Kong government has expressed its deep concern and the hope that it will be able to appropriate disaster relief funds as soon as possible.

■ Funds received by the SEF will be passed on in full to the MOI’s disaster relief account to be used in their entirety by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI). In this regard, the MOI will set up a specific accounting and inspection procedure to audit these funds.

The Central Emergency Operation Center will make overall evaluations regarding whether Taiwan will agree the Mainland side to send personnel, equipment, and materials to assist in disaster rescue

QUESTION: Mainland China has sent a letter saying it is willing to provide necessary assistance in accordance with our actual needs. Does the government hope the Mainland will send personnel or provide the necessary materials? What is the procedure for sending Mainland rescue personnel to Taiwan?

DEPUTY MINISTER LIU:

■ “When trouble strikes, everyone pitches in” is the humanitarian response all countries around the world have in the face of serious disaster. As for the government’s position, we wish to express our sincere gratitude for the expressions of concern and the willingness to provide assistance on the part of the international community with regard to the catastrophic flooding in Taiwan.

■ There is a very clear division of labor in the administrative system for the relief effort as a whole. The Executive Yuan has set up a Central Emergency Operation Center that will make an overall evaluation of both personnel and material needs. As for procedures for Mainland personnel coming to Taiwan, this lies within the authority of the MOI. The MAC will provide its assistance for possible future demands in this area.