President Chen Shui-bian met with Chinese Hakka Culture and Communications Association Chairman Yang Cheng-dao and other visitors this morning, extending his sincere respect and gratitude to their efforts in promoting Hakka culture.
President Chen expressed great pleasure in meeting the CHCC executives and was particularly moved by the fact that Senior Presidential Advisor Yeh Chu-lan was able to accompany the visitors despite her busy schedule.
President Chen took the opportunity to thank Ms. Yeh and incumbent Council for Hakka Affairs Chairman Lee Yung-te for playing a key role in promoting Hakka culture. He also lauded the association for its efforts in the producing of Hakka ballads, dramas, music, dialects and other activities for the past decade so as to make Hakka culture a part of the people's joint memory and life.
President Chen pointed out that though the government's Hakka policy leaves much to be desired, it is definitely committed to promoting Hakka culture. The president enumerated the measures that the government has adopted since his inauguration, including the establishment of the Council for Hakka Affairs in 2001 - the first of its kind in the world - as well as the launch of a Hakka television in 2003. Today, the audience may watch its programs on the Internet.
The president stressed that although the government is reforming its structure, the Council for Hakka Affairs will remain intact, not influenced by the downsizing plan - a decision that fully reflects the government's esteem of the council.
He further pointed out that the government has sponsored Hakka cultural festivals, Yimin festivals, Tung blossom festivals, and other activities a number of times so that the public may appreciate the beauty of Hakka.
Additionally, several universities have set up Hakka departments, institutes, or related fields to make the study of Hakka a distinct discipline.
So far, there is already a Liu Dwei Hakka Culture Park in southern Taiwan and the Miaoli Hakka Culture Park is under construction. Hopefully, there will be a Hakka culture park in the north soon.
The president noted that the various efforts the government has undertaken match with the pursuits of the Chinese Hakka Culture and Communications Association. He hoped to take this opportunity to hear more opinions from the public on the formulation of the Hakka policy and its implementation.
The visitors were grateful that the president took time to meet them despite his hectic schedule. They lauded the government's Hakka policy, exchanged opinions with President Chen and urged the government to provide Hakka cultural workers with more funds and resources so that they can better preserve, pass on and promote Hakka culture.
Chinese Hakka Culture and Communications Association Chairman Yao Cheng-dao and other visitors paid a visit to the president in the company of Council for Hakka Council Chairman Lee Yung-te, Senior Advisor to the President Yeh Chu-lan, and Deputy Presidential Secretary-General Ma Yung-cheng.