Date: February 12, 2018
MAC Press Release No. 12
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chang Hsiao-yueh went with colleagues to Hualien on February 12 to attend a joint public memorial for the earthquake victims. She expressed sympathy and condolences to the victims' families, including the relatives of nine mainland Chinese tourists and two Hong Kong Canadian visitors.
The MAC stated that the humanitarian relief effort in the face of this natural disaster was unsurpassed. The MAC thanked the Hualien County Government for holding the joint public memorial and showing universal humanitarian care. The MAC initiated an emergency response mechanism immediately after the earthquake. It has provided up-to-date information to the mainland Chinese and Hong Kong governments and to the families through the existing related channels across the Taiwan Strait and in Taiwan. In conjunction with the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Travel Agent Association of the ROC, Taiwan, it also established a task force in Hualien to locally provide all-out assistance.
The MAC thanked mainland China for its expression of condolence and care, through liaison mechanisms under the related cross-Strait agreements, over the human toll and relief efforts in Taiwan, and the governments of mainland China and Hong Kong for sending personnel to accompany the families of the victims to Taiwan and assist in handling related matters. The MAC will continue to provide necessary follow-up services for the families of the victims in conjunction with the SEF and related agencies.