Peace, freedom must be won, Yen declares
Vice President C. K. Yen said peace and freedom will not come by accident.
"They have to be won," Vice President Yen said.
In a keynote speech at the annual convention of the China Chapter of the World Anti-Communist League and the Asian Peoples' Anti-Communist League, Vice President Yen said the Republic of China should take the initiative in the worldwide crusade against Communist slavery.
"We cannot just sit and wait for peace to come to us," he said, "Freedom has to be won with moral courage."
He urged closer coordination among WACL and APACL member states to check Communist expansion in this part of the world.
Dr. KU Cheng-kang, WACL honorary chairman, presided. He said the two organizations will redouble their efforts to promote solidarity among freedom-loving nations of the world.
Premier honors top servicemen
Premier Chiang Ching-kuo met with 104 "Difficulty Overcoming Heroes of the Year" and 78 "Outstanding Servicemen" at the Armed Forces Officers' Club in Taipei. Each received a medal.
Premier Chiang said servicemen have made tremendous contributions to the war effort, production, supply and the maintenance of public security.
The military progresses year by year, the Premier said, and the responsibilities to be shouldered grow daily larger. Everyone must work harder if tasks are to be completed, he added.
The military must be determined to overcome all difficulties, the Premier said, and thereby achieve the national goals.
The spirit of never being overcome by difficulties will guarantee success in counterattack and national recovery, he concluded.
Poll association is 15 years old
The Republic of China Public Opinion Poll Association marked its 15th anniversary.
More than 100 members and guests attended the observance. Wu Wang-chi, a legislator and president of the association, presided.
Vice President C. K. Yen sent a message of congratulations. He urged the pollsters to continue to reflect opinion of the people as a ready reference for government. He said government policy and programs must be based on the interests of the people.
Interior Minister Lin Chin-sheng said that government has put poll findings to good use.
Chen Yu-ching, chairman of the Department of Overseas Affairs of the Kuomintang, noted that public opinion polls play an important role in a democratic system. "We have to conduct polls carefully and correctly," he said.
The meeting elected a new board of 31 members and 11 supervisors.
Family income US$177.80 monthly
Taipei's average family income was NT$7,112 (US$177.80) a month in the first half of last year, an increase of NT$1,631 (US$40.80) or 29.74 per cent over 1969.
There were 89.67 TV sets per 100 families, an increase of 35.44 over 1969.
Every 100 families had 68.33 refrigerators, 24 telephones and 75 cameras.
Seventy-three of every 100 families subscribed to a newspaper.
Income tax law revised
President Chiang Kai-shek has approved a Legislative Yuan revision of the income tax law.
Interest on fixed-term savings deposits of more than two years will no longer be taxed. Also exempted is interest paid on loans made by foreign governments and banking institutions to the Chinese government and local enterprises.
The law ends the 10 per cent tax on undistributed profits. But if undistributed profit is more than a fourth of capital, that part must be used to increase capitalization.
Contributions to educational, cultural and charitable organizations may not exceed 20 per cent of taxable income. Contributions to the armed forces and the government are deductible up to 100 per cent.
Cultural foundation Commends writers
The Chia Hsin Cultural Foundation made its annual presentation of awards to writers.
Professor Wang Yun-wu, chairman of the foundation, made the presentations. Writers received citations and cash awards ranging from NT$20,000 to NT$40,000.
The prize winners were: Prof. Yao Cho-ying, chief of the Social Affairs Department of the National Taiwan University Hospital; Prof. Chu Chun-tzu of National Cheng Kung University; Prof. Chiang Chun-chang of National Chengchi University; Wang Ting-yu, senior researcher of the Chang Hwa Commercial Bank; Associate Prof. Li Tse-lin of Ming Chuan College; Associate Prof. Yang Nai-fan of the College of Chinese Culture; Associate Prof. Chan Tung-chang of the Political Warfare College; and Chung Chin-chang, manager of the China Enterprise and Management Development Center.
A total of 69 works has been recognized by the Chia Hsin Cultural Foundation since its inception 10 years ago.
Professor Wang reported on the work of the screening committee in choosing prize winners.
Economic, cultural relations stressed
Foreign Minister Shen Chang-huan said the Republic of China will do its best to cultivate political, economic, trade, cultural and science cooperation with countries of the free world.
The goal is to unite free China with other free and anti-Communist peoples of the world in a struggle against the united front tactics of the Communists.
Shen said the government is active internationally despite its pullout from the United Nations. He said the Republic of China has membership in four affiliated agencies of the U.N. and 14 governmental level organizations.
The ROC is represented in more than 190 private international organizations. More than 100 international meetings were held in Taiwan last year.
Most countries which have severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China continue to maintain cultural, economic and trade ties with this country.
Sex and violence in films banned
Films laden with sex, violence and blood may not be made or shown in Taiwan, the Bureau of Cultural Affairs announced. Un scheduled checks will be made at all movie houses.
The bureau is encouraging film makers to turn out movies about Chinese culture, science, education, literature, history, sports and constructive stories. Quotas for foreign movies will go to those who shoot acceptable Mandarin films.
The board of censors will be told to cut or suppress movies emphasizing sex and violence.
Government moves on private schools
The Ministry of Education has decided in principle to "nationalize" private primary and junior middle schools as of the 1973-74 school year.
The decision was reached at a meeting of administrators. Details were discussed but participants conceded there are many technical problems to be solved.
Government will not take over the schools outright. However, they will no longer be permitted to enroll students through competitive examination.
Instead, students living in the school's district will be admitted freely. The private schools will receive subsidies from the government.
There are 102 private junior high schools and 23 private primary schools in Taiwan.
They have been attracting top students because of their success in preparing youngsters for senior high school and college exams. The higher tuition charges makes it possible to attract outstanding teaching talent.
Overseas education suggestions made
Chinese education abroad was discussed at a symposium. These suggestions were made:
- Measures to accord with local conditions and circumstances.
- Compilation of books on language and culture.
- Use of audio-visual equipment and materials.
- Greater stress on Confucianism.
Organization of an association.
Sigma Delta Chi backs correspondents
Sigma Delta Chi, a national organization of professional journalists in the United States, has joined the fight to restore accreditation to Central News Agency correspondents at the United Nations.
The pledge was made in the 1972 Freedom of Information Report of SDX.
The report said: the two correspondents were barred for political reasons.
"The U.N.'s continued failure to rectify this wrong is legally, historically, morally and philosophically indefensible and against the best interest of the U.N.," the report said.
Measures taken against pollution
The government is taking effective measures to control air, water and noise pollution and the subsidence of land, the Executive Yuan said in a statement.
In reply to the Legislative Yuan, the cabinet noted improvement of factory smoke conditions.
Water pollution has been combated by improved disposal of human wastes and garbage and prevention of industrial use of rivers for waste elimination.
To prevent the sinking of land, digging of wells has been controlled and the use of underground water limited.
The statement said authorities are studying the noise problem in cities. Noise abatement is being demonstrated in designated areas.
The cabinet listed these urgent requirements for government:
- New labor safety and hygiene law.
- Combating of child labor and exploitation of women.
- Readjustment of the minimum wage.
- Re-surveying of the land registry map.
- A law applying to industrial groups.
- Review of labor insurance.
- Vocational training.
- Reservation of land for public facilities.
- Distribution of land under the urban development plan.
- National housing law.
- Equalization of land ownership.
- Fire prevention for high-rise buildings.
More manpower statistics needed
Dr. Philip M. Hauser, professor of sociology and director of the Population Research Center, University of Chicago, has called on Chinese manpower planners to compile better statistics.
Dr. Hauser met with manpower planning executives of the Council for International Economic Cooperation and Development. He is a consultant to the Asia Foundation.
Dr. Hauser urged planning for the effective utilization of labor.
"The greatest return possible for any investment is the investment of human beings - the investment of human resources," he said.
"This provides greater returns even if it is measured in money terms rather than investments and in anything else which you may mention."
Vocational schools will be expanded
The government has decided to train more skilled technicians than humanities and sociology students starting this year.
Of new students at colleges and universities, 55 per cent will be enrolled in natural sciences, engineering, agriculture, and medical science.
The government will set up more two-year and four-year colleges of engineering and industry.
He said senior high schools will accept about 75,000 students this year. The government will encourage other junior high graduates to study at vocational schools.
Vocational schools will accept 80,500 students this year. The number will be increased by 3,000 annually.
Five-year junior colleges will accept 20,000 new students in 1973.
Phi Tau Phi Society meets
The Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society held its 51st annual meeting at the end of December.
The society promotes academic research and study.
Phi Tau Phi stands for philosophy, technology and physiology. It was established at Shanghai, in 1911 and is similar to Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Tau Peta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi in the United States.
Vice President C. K. Yen spoke on the significance of the organization in promotion of education.
Guests included Dr. Arthur Hanson, president of Purdue University, and Mrs. Hanson. Dr. Hanson described the situation faced by higher education in the United States as "uncertain."
As of 1972-73, he said, 9.2 million students are attending U.S. institutions of higher education.
More than half of eligible students graduating from high schools are going on to advanced studies.
580,033 tourists carne last year
Tourists totaled 580,033 last year, an increase of 40,278, or 7.5 per cent, over 1971. Overseas Chinese numbered 80,318.
Japanese topped the list at 277,704, an increase of 8.6 per cent.
Americans followed at 121,805, up by 9.3 per cent.
Prosperity amazes ex-Red soldier
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw so much food and clothing and so many watches, TV sets, motor vehicles and smiling faces," a former soldier of the Chinese Communists said while visiting a Taipei department store.
Chu Chun-cheng, 19, of Shantung, a soldier of the 1st Battalion Artillery Regiment of the Communist 31st Army, said such things would be unbelievable on the mainland.
Chu swam to Tatan, an islet of the Kinmen group, the night of November 15, 1972. He reached Taipei December 17.
A Red Guard when he was a high school student, Chu volunteered for the Red army December 20, 1970 after hearing that he and his schoolmates would be sent to rural areas.
He was assigned to the Amoy area opposite Kinmen.
Chu said he sought freedom because he could no longer tolerate the Maoist regime.
Chu started reading free Chinese leaflets and hearing broad casts from Kinmen after reaching Amoy. The political warfare officers criticized his ideological attitude last October.
He then decided to make his break.
43,542 babies born in Taipei
A baby was born every 12 minutes and a resident died every 75 minutes in Taipei last year.
The natural growth rate was some 4 persons an hour.
Taipei had more than 1,800,000 people at the end of the year, including 43,542 babies born in 1972.
'Taiwan booms,' Newsweek reports
"Taiwan is enjoying the biggest boom in its history," Newsweek reported in its January 8 issue.
Under the headline "Taiwan: Booming Along," the article said "Taiwan has experienced a distressing series of diplomatic reversals in the year and a half since Richard Nixon began cozying up to Peking."
"But most foreign businessmen in Taiwan have shown no inclination whatever to pull up stakes. And, if anything, the Taiwanese seem to be working harder than ever to insure their own prosperity."
The widely circulated news magazine continued: "Everywhere in Taiwan, it seems, new factories, housing units, roads and shops are being built. Statistics bear out this impression. There was a 47 per cent increase in the rate of construction in the first six months of 1972. Foreign currency and gold reserves increased by $259 million during the same period. And an 11 per cent increase in the gross national product is projected for this year."
Newsweek said "equally important, American money is continuing to pour into Taiwan." The magazine reported the Ford Motor Co. investment here and the new Chase Manhattan Bank branch office in Taipei. It quoted a U. S. diplomat as saying "The Taiwanese snowball is rolling. Seemingly nothing can stop it."
The article said Taiwan's political picture is brightening, and reported on the Kuomintang's landslide victory in general elections.
Newsweek ended the article by saying the Chinese Communists have not objected to continuing U. S. aid to Taipei. "Nor have they given any indication that they plan to seize Taiwan by force in the foreseeable future."
The magazine said a group of Chinese Americans visiting Peiping asked "premier" Chou En-lai when he thought Taiwan would be taken over. "It may be ten, twenty or 30 years," Chou reportedly answered. "Anyway, it won't be in my lifetime and maybe not in your lifetime either."