Date: October 15, 2018
MAC Press Release No. 66
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chen Ming-tong went to Kinmen to attend the Kinmen Area Water Resource Development Symposium on October 14 and the completion ceremony for the Greater Kinmen Desalination Plant Functional Improvement and Expansion Project on October 15. The MAC continues to closely watch and assist the upgrading of Kinmen's water supply capacity and diversification of water resources.
The MAC has long closely attended to the issue of water resources in the Kinmen area. The MAC entrusted National Quemoy University to hold the Kinmen Area Water Resource Development Symposium on October 14 to collect input from experts and scholars on this issue. In his opening speech, Minister Chen said that, the Mini-Three-Links was an important policy promoted by President Tsai Ing-wen during her tenure as minister of the MAC. During President Tsai's administration, related agencies have implemented the Mini- Three-Links in a "first trial and first implementation" spirit. They have continued to relax restrictions on travel from the Mainland to Kinmen, Matsu, and Penghu, as well as institutionalize subsidies for loss-making Mini-Three-Link shipping routes. The government has also continued to promote water resource diversification to ensure the self-sufficiency and security of tourism and industrial water supply in Kinmen. Supplementary water diverted from mainland China and desalination are elements of the diversification program. The MAC commissioned the symposium to gather input from scholars, experts, and other parties for ongoing advancement of related work.
The completion ceremony for the Greater Kinmen Desalination Plant Functional Improvement and Expansion Project was jointly held on the morning of October 15 by the Water Resources Agency (WRA) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Kinmen County Government. In a speech presented at the ceremony, Minister Chen stated that the functional improvement and expansion of the Greater Kinmen Desalination Plant can progressively resolve the problem of water shortages in Kinmen, increase water self-sufficiency, and advance towards water diversification goals. The government will continue to assist Kinmen with infrastructure development to enhance local well-being and development.
Attendees at the October 14 symposium and October 15 ceremony included MAC Minister Chen Ming-tong and Deputy Minister Chiu Chui-Cheng, WRA Deputy Director-General Chung Chao-kung, representatives of the Kinmen County Government, legislators, reporters, and other persons from various sectors. The participants discussed issues related to Kinmen's water self-sufficiency and security, as well as the sustainable use, improvement, and diversified development of water resources, to help build consensus on follow-up work.
In response to the spread of African swine fever in Mainland China, customs, immigration, quarantine and security (CIQS) personnel in the Kinmen area, according to policy directives, have made advance arrangements to fully prevent the disease from spreading to Taiwan and protect industry safety and public health. During the visit, MAC Minister Chen also conveyed reassurances and encouragement to related personnel.