With regard to the seventeen Mainland tourists whose whereabouts have been unknown since July 13, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) today stated that it has convened a special conference twice with other agencies concerned, to assess and reinforce safety management mechanisms. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI), the Aviation Police Office, and the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications have taken concrete coordination measures immediately, to ensure that tour guides are able to meet the Mainland tourists coming to Taiwan for sightseeing when they have gone beyond the areas under surveillance.
The Mainland Affairs Council stated that the Government has relaxed Category Ⅲ Mainland tourists since January 1, 2002 to visit Taiwan for sightseeing. Category Ⅱ Mainland tourists have been allowed to come to Taiwan for sightseeing since May 1, 2002. Based on statistical figures, there were 2,151 Mainland tourists who came to Taiwan in 2002, without any incident of missing persons. In 2003, a total of 12,775 Mainland tourists came to Taiwan for sightseeing, and there were three cases involving missing Mainland tourists. As of the end of June in 2004, there have been 8,448 Mainland tourists in Taiwan. With regard to the seventeen Mainland tourists who were missing on July 13, the agencies concerned have already traced their whereabouts and are now checking on the matter.
Moreover, with regard to Mainland stowaways coming to Taiwan, related Government agencies have created the “Snakeheads Hunting Task Force” late last year, which has been significantly effective in its task of accomplishing a series of investigations and arrests, as well as of prevention work. Moreover, in order to discourage Mainland people from coming to Taiwan through fake marriage channels, the National Police Agency has also formed a task force responsible for a comprehensive check on Mainland spouses in Taiwan in the middle of September last year. Agencies concerned have also taken measures starting in the end of September last year for a two-stage interview mechanism consisting of interviews with Taiwanese people before the arrival of their Mainland spouses, as well as interviews with the Mainland spouses before and after they enter Taiwan. As to those illegally coming to Taiwan or staying in Taiwan as fake tourists, the agencies concerned have made comprehensive reinforcements on safety management mechanisms.