Premier Lai Ching-te said Thursday that the Romantic Provincial Highway 3 and the Hakka communities along the route in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taichung are rich with Hakka culture and an important element of the Cultural Taiwan concept. The highway and nearby localities constitute a cultural trail of national importance, and their combined development will bring local economic development and new life to Hakka towns. The premier's remarks came after a briefing by the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) on the current progress and future plans for the project at this morning's meeting of the Cabinet.
In addition to enlivening the arts and culture, the project is very significant for the development of industry clusters and low-carbon "slow city" tourism, said Premier Lai. It can also serve as an index for similar development in Hakka communities in Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung and Pingtung.
Discussions held in surrounding counties and cities, together with responses from local mayors and magistrates, have enabled the Executive Yuan to gauge levels of support, anticipation and approval for the development policy. The premier commended the HAC for its promotion of the Romantic Provincial Highway 3 project and the integration work that has already been done with the municipalities, cities and townships concerned. Continuing efforts will be conducted through a new interministerial platform.