The privilege and freedom of medical research and adequate care can be maintained only in a democratic and free society, Vice President Shieh Tung-min told the 11th Congress of the Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania.
"Every democratic nation in the Asia-Oceania area has made great achievements in raising the standard of medical treatment and promoting a social health system," he said.
Dr. Wu Chi-fu, president of CMAAO, welcomed members.
"If we abide by our traditional high standards of humanitarianism, there will be no boundaries of countries and no discrimination against rich or poor," he said. "This is the basic principle, spirit and high ethical standard of the medical profession."
"Benevolence held at heart and practiced in deeds" were the encouraging words sent by Premier Sun Yun-suan.
The Premier said in a congratulatory message that the ROC is entering the ranks of developed countries. Pollution, the theme of the meeting, has become an environmental problem, he added.
"Our government is implementing plans for environmental protection and medical treatment in villages," he said. "I hope you can give us advice."
Minister of Interior Chiu Chuang-huan praised CMAAO for achievements in promoting medical techniques and international friendship.
Plans advanced for 1980 seminar
The 1980 National Development Seminar will be held in July with some 200 scholars, experts and government officials from home and abroad taking part.
This was decided at an organization committee meeting with Premier Sun Yun-suan presiding.
Some 30 members of the committee, including Shen Chang-huan, secretary general of the National Security Council, and Ma Chi-chuang, secretary general to the President, attended.
Participants in the next seminar will be divided into seven groups on politics, external relations, mass media, education, finance and economy, science and technology and culture. The group on culture is new.
Chinese newspapers serving the world
Tsu Sung-chiu, director of the Department of Cultural Affairs of the Kuomintang Central Committee, said the World Chinese Newspaper Association can be proud of promoting cooperation and consolidation of Chinese-language newspapers all over the world and improving their management and technology.
Addressing the 1979 conference, he urged that the association:
1. Promote exchange of experiences on newspaper management and train more Journalists.
2. Uncover the atrocities of Communist regimes and report them along with the facts about Communist infiltration and subversion.
3. Make objective reports on the Republic of China's achievements and experience in implementing the Three Principles of the People.
More than 120 representatives of Chinese-language newspapers participated.
The World Chinese Newspaper Association was established in Hongkong in 1968. Aw Sian, chairman of Sing Tao Jih Pao in Hongkong, is the president.
Foreign friends use their Mandarin
Nineteen foreign friends spoke in Mandarin of their impressions and opinions regarding study in the Republic of China.
Nineteen students from the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Burma, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines participated.
Miss Lin Hea Son of South Korea placed first with her re marks on ''Why the Freedom Loving People of the World Despise Communism."
Ross Lewis of the United States placed second, using a mixture of humor and sentiment in speaking of the history and culture of China. He spoke of his admiration for Li Po (701-762), one of China's greatest poets.
Big movies planned by Raymond Chow
Chinese motion picture magnate Raymond Chow announced in Hollywood a US$60 million six-picture production program for his Golden Harvest empire.
Chow has recruited stars Charles Bronson, Roger Moore, Jaclyn Smith, Hardy Kruger, Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas and such production talents as Sam Peckinpah, Brian Hutton, Peter Hunt and Al Ruddy for 1980 films to be shot in various parts of the world.
The pictures are to be conceived and done in the English language. But Chow will continue to turn out 14 Chinese films a year.
Chow started the production of international films two years ago and had completed four pictures by 1979. He has plans for three big productions in 1981.
Chow has established the Golden Harvest Taiwan Company to distribute his pictures, several of which have been filmed locally.
6,000 athletes say their farewells
Fireworks were displayed, gifts exchanged and "Auld Lang Syne" sung as the Taiwan Area Games came to an end.
Thousands attended the closing ceremony at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.
Some 6,000 athletes participated in the Games. Folk dancers and other entertainers cheered them right up to the last moment.
Mayor Lee Teng-hui expressed his congratulations to the athletes for record breaking performances.
Memorial planned for Chiang Kai-shek
Asia's largest hospital will honor the memory of President Chiang Kai-shek.
A preparatory committee headed by National Assemblyman Pei Min-yu said the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hospital in Taipei will have 3,600 beds.
Free care will be given servicemen and the underprivileged.
The site is on Shuiyuan Road near the Tri-Service General Hospital. It was donated by Miss Cheng Hsin, one of two vice chairmen of the preparatory committee.
Miss Cheng said she and her husband will donate two sites at Taichung and Kaohsiung for branch hospitals if public response is sufficient.
Pan Yang-shan, the other vice chairman, said pledges total about NT$700 million, mostly from overseas Chinese.
Construction is scheduled to start next year. A British firm has been contracted for the design and construction supervision.
Scenic sites to be developed
The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Communications, is planning development of scenic areas and the industry generally.
Emphasis on development of Taiwan scenic areas will include:
- Northeastern area and coastline including Taipei City, Yang-mingshan, Wulai, Pitan, Shihmen Reservoir, Fulung and Yehliu.
- Central area, including the Central Cross-Island Highway.
- Southern area of Kenting, Tainan City, Wushantou, Tsengwen Reservoir, Teng Ching River, Peng-hu and Lanyu.
- East coast, including Taroko Gorge and Hualien.
23 new hotels under construction
Twenty-three hotels are under construction and will be completed within two years.
Fourteen hotels with 5,464 rooms are being built in Taipei, three with 839 rooms in Kaohsiung and six others elsewhere.
The 23 hotels will have a total of 7,613 rooms.
Six hotels were completed in 1979.
Sino-U.S. groups remember WW II
A U.S. delegation of close to 100 members and families of the wartime Sino-American Special Technical Cooperation Institute came to Taipei for a 25th anniversary reunion.
Founded during the Second World War by the Chinese armed forces and some sectors of the U.S. navy, the institute trained special troops to counter Japanese aggression in China and the Pacific.
Training was given 1,328 combat and technical personnel plus 49,180 guerrillas.
The institute closed in 1946. Reunions were initiated in 1954.
When the Republic of China withdrew from the United Nations in 1972, the annual meetings were moved to Taipei to show support for the Republic of China.
Some 4,000 members of the reunion group include many prominent Americans.
Overseas Chinese youths assisted
The Ministry of Education has helped 64,317 overseas Chinese youths from all over the world to study in the Republic of China since 1951.
Education Minister Chu Hui-sen told the Legislative Yuan that 29,685 of the students had been graduated and returned to the 36 nations and areas of their residence.
A total of 1,140 overseas Chinese youths returned this year for fact-finding and 379 to study Chinese and Chinese culture.
Schools to have potable water
Hsu Cheng-pei, Taipei City water works director, said that by 1982 tap water at schools will be potable and water bottles need no longer be carried.
Hsu said water from the water-works already meets the standards of portability. But some water may be affected by old rusty pipes. Some 500 kilometers of pipe is being replaced.
By July of 1982, tap water in the suburbs of Peitou and Yang-mingshan will also be potable.
Housewives, students check on movies
James Soong (center) answers questions on television's "Face to Face." (File photo)
The Government Information Office will let housewives and students help with movie censor ship. James Soong, director general, said GIO has already invited two housewives and two college students to sit in on two controversial movies.
Housewives are recommended by the Chinese Women's Anti-Aggression League and students by the China Youth Corps.
Soong said the GIO wants more opinions.
GIO is also seeking new ways of checking on songs, which are now checked by the Department of Publications and the TV and Radio Department.
Soong told the Domestic, Foreign Affairs and Education Committees of the Legislative Yuan that the quota system for imported movies will remain in force. This means 275 imports for the 1980 fiscal year.