The government will look into expanding Kinmen County into a more official port of entry that functions as a "gateway to Taiwan," Premier Chang San-cheng said today while visiting the outlying archipelago, which lies a short distance from the Chinese mainland.
During the visit, the premier toured Shuitou Pier and Kinmen Harbor's port facilities, inspected construction on Kinmen Bridge, and reviewed results of the "mini-three-links" policy—or direct postal, trade and transportation connections between Taiwan proper and mainland China.
At Shuitou Pier, the premier said a record high 1.76 million people passed through the pier for the mini three links last year, which already makes it an unofficial national gateway, Chang said. Using this concept, the government will consider the possibility of expanding local infrastructure, improving mainland visitors' first impression of Taiwan, and upgrading the county's temporary task forces into permanent committees. Formal operating procedures and mechanisms that are employed at the larger Port of Keelung and Port of Kaohsiung will also be used as reference.
While inspecting Kinmen Bridge, the premier said the bridge's function will be 30 percent transportation and 70 percent tourism with an emphasis on a pedestrian walkway. More than economics, the bridge must bring cultural and social value as well. Building this bridge to Lieyu, or Little Kinmen, will significantly improve the health care of the smaller islet township. He hopes engineers can overcome construction challenges and put the project back on schedule.
Aside from seeing Kinmen's past development, current challenges and future potential, the premier said this trip allowed him to understand the importance of the mini three links to the offshore county. He is optimistic that Kinmen will grow into a major national port with its own unique character.
The premier was accompanied on his visit today by Executive Yuan Minister without Portfolio and National Development Council Minister Lin Chu-chia, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Jian-yu, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia and Kinmen County Magistrate Chen Fu-hai.