The lunar new year holidays are just around the corner. To enable Taiwanese businessmen in China to smoothly arrange for their return to their hometowns during the new year holidays, the Mainland Affairs Council and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications invited this morning (Jan. 3) responsible persons of the six major domestic airline companies for consultations on the promotion of the lunar new year chartered flights for Taiwanese businessmen, and on the related matters concerning the expansion of the “Mini-Three-Links” and the “air-sea intermodal transportation,” a consensus was reached between the Government and the airline companies on mutual coordination and active promotion of the measures.
The Government declared again at today’s conference that it had absolute sincerity in promoting the lunar new year chartered flights as a service for the Taiwanese businessmen, and that it intended to conduct pragmatic negotiations with China on the chartered flights that “are two-way, reciprocal, and do not have to stop in a third location.” China has finally made a response to our appeal; therefore, the Government decided to entrust the Taipei Airlines Association to assist in negotiating related matters to facilitate the related arrangements.
The Mainland Affairs Council has also requested the Taipei Airlines Association to organize the efforts of related carriers and to submit their applications to China at the proper time and through the proper approach under the direction of the competent authorities. The Mainland Affairs Council has also urged the agencies concerned in China to consult with Taiwan by determining the flight schedules as soon as possible to provide the Taiwanese businessmen in China with a faster and more convenient channel for returning home during the holidays, thereby fulfilling their promise of taking care of the Taiwanese businessmen.
Moreover, views were also exchanged at today’s meeting on the expansion of the “Mini-Three-Links” and on the matters related to the “sea-air intermodal transportation” to facilitate the return of the Taiwanese businessmen to their hometowns during the holidays. Starting from March 1, 2004, the Government has allowed Taiwanese businessmen permitted by the Ministry of Economic Affairs to invest in China and their family members to travel across the Strait via the “Mini-Three-Links” route after obtaining proper approval; therefore, the expansion of the scope of eligible applicants during this year’s lunar new year holidays is mainly to extend the coverage of the measure to those Taiwanese businessmen, as well as their family members, who have not yet obtained permits or who have not yet registered with the authorities. The related review procedure for the applications shall proceed in the light of the model implemented last year. The “sea-air intermodal transportation” consisting of entry into Hong Kong through the sea route and flights to Taiwan for Taiwanese businessmen in the Guangdong area (including Dongguan and Shenzhen) has now started normal operations. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications also coordinated the airline companies for additional flights to accommodate the Taiwanese businessmen.