Press Release of the Offshore Control Division of the Executive Yuan's SARS Epidemic Prevention, Control and Relief Committee
Today (May 14), the Offshore Control Division again linked up with the CKS International Airport and the Kaohsiung International Airport for a video conference. The Offshore Control Division declared that since the WHO has already taken Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, off its list of SARS-infected areas, Taiwan has also lifted its restrictions on travelers from Mongolia as from today. Also, because of the current epidemic, Mainland spouses staying in Taiwan whose visas will expire before the end of June will be granted an extension until June 30.
The WHO has already taken Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, off its list of "areas with recent local transmission of SARS." In accordance with this, the Offshore Control Division decided that it is no longer necessary to temporarily suspend visa services and implement "Type B Home Quarantine Measures" for travelers from Mongolia as of today (May 14). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already publicly announced that offshore control measures for passengers from Mongolia have been lifted. Our government had put Mongolia (in its entirety) on its quarantine list on May 2. After restrictions on Mongolian travelers were lifted today, the only areas for which control and quarantine regulations are still applicable are the Mainland (every province), Hong Kong, Singapore, Toronto (Canada), and the Republic of the Philippines.
Because the SARS epidemic situation in areas such as the Mainland and Hong Kong is still not stabilized, and due to humanitarian considerations as well as with a view to avoid Mainland spouses, who have to return to the Mainland at the expiry of their stay in Taiwan for family visits or union, being infected with SARS after returning to the Mainland, the Taiwan government announced that Mainland spouses whose visitor visas are to expire soon, may extend their stay until the end of May. With a view to the fact that the epidemic situation in the Mainland is still not under control, the Department of Health, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Straits Exchange Foundation had been asked to review the issue again. In coordination with their suggestions, the Offshore Control Division passed a resolution today to grant automatic extension until June 30, 2003 of the visas of Mainland spouses staying in Taiwan.
Statistics show that in accordance with the granted visa extensions, by the end of April, a total of 5,091 Mainland spouses originally due to leave Taiwan because their visas expired, were allowed to stay on. By the end of May, with the new extension in force, that number will increase by roughly 7,000 to 12,324. This policy will help to avoid unnecessary travel across the Taiwan Strait, and will thus be conducive to the control of the domestic epidemic.
The Offshore Control Division declared that in accordance with Item 4 of Paragraph 1 of Article 18-1 and Paragraph 2 of Article 18-1 of the "Rules Governing the Approval of Entry into Taiwan by Citizens of Mainland China," it will announce the new extension scheme as soon as possible. The Straits Exchange Foundation will be in charge of making arrangements with the relevant Mainland authorities, asking them to give Mainland spouses in Taiwan grace to extend the validity of their Taiwan Area Travel Permits which are near the expiry or have been overdue.