What are the chances of lifting the ban on noncitizens traveling to Taiwan from China and Hong Kong?
The initial period was for two weeks, starting from Apr. 20. Then we extended that for another two weeks. We don’t know whether we’ll have another extension on May 26. We’re considering adjusting the current border-control measures so they’ll be less disruptive to business travelers. We’ll probably make it easier for them to come and go without too much concern about quarantine restrictions. Concrete measures should be announced in a short while. Q: What will the long-term impact of SARS be? A: In the last few years, people have tended to be rather optimistic about Chinese economic development, with the hope that China would be able to improve its political structure. But the regime isn’t transparent enough. This disease makes people less optimistic — it exposes a lot of problems in China. I would guess people will be more realistic about China these days, less confident. Q: Will the SARS outbreak affect lifting the ban on direct transportation links between Taiwan and the mainland? A
