April 16, 2013
No. 25
The Taiwan–Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (ECCC) convened the first meeting of its second Board of Directors and Supervisors today (April 16, 2013). The meeting elected Johnnason Liu, former Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Deputy Minister and current Chairperson of Asia Logistics Co., Ltd. (亞洲物流股份有限公司), as the second Chairperson of the ECCC, while MAC Deputy Minister Lin Chu-chia and Acting Director of the MAC's Department of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Chen Ming-jen were elected ECCC vice chairperson and secretary-general, respectively. Chinese National Federation of Industries Chairperson and ECCC Director Hsu Sheng-hsiung, former president of the Central News Agency and former director of the Kwang Hwa Information and Culture Center Lo Chih-cheng respectively assumed positions as conveners of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Committee and Cultural Cooperation Committee under the ECCC.
The ECCC was established in 2010 with the full support of the MAC. The first Board Directors and Supervisors completed their terms on April 15th, 2013. Lin Chen-kuo handed over the reins as ECCC Chairperson at the end of his term due to personal reasons. Under his leadership over the past three years, the ECCC held three joint meetings with the Hong Kong side and achieved many substantive results, such as renaming Taiwan’s representative office in Hong Kong as the "Taipei Economic and Cultural Office," establishing the “Hong Kong Economic, Trade and Cultural Office” in Taiwan, signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Banking Supervision Cooperation and the Air Services Arrangement between Taiwan and Hong Kong, and the establishing of a free iPermit system by the Hong Kong government for Taiwanese people visiting Hong Kong. These and numerous other exchanges and cooperation have been highly recognized and affirmed by all sectors on both sides, ushering in a new era of closer exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The MAC stated that, the newly-appointed ECCC Chairperson Liu graduated from the Department of Law at National Chengchi University, and is also currently the Chairperson of Asia Logistics Co., Ltd.. Chairperson Liu served at the MAC for 20 years and has extensive experience in cross-strait and Taiwan-Hong Kong affairs. His outstanding academic and professional credentials and well-rounded qualifications further make him an excellent candidate for the position.
The MAC is deeply indebted to former ECCC Chairperson Lin for his hard work and achievements over the past three years. The MAC is also confident that, under the leadership of newly appointed Chairperson Liu, the ECCC will continue to assist the government in promoting and deepening economic, trade and cultural cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong in the future.