Wu Cheng-ji, NIA chief, called on Kinmen County Magistrate Lee Chu-feng to survey local residents concerning the operation of the "mini three links" arrangement, in which people use the islet as a stopover between Taiwan and China's Fujian Province.

He also inspected NIA facilities handling immigration services and document processing, as well as a shelter for people caught by NIA police for human trafficking.

Magistrate Lee said while the government still prohibits direct transport service between Taiwan and China, the amount of people using Kinmen as a transit point, bypassing costly and time-consuming trips via Hong Kong or Macua, increased to 725,000 in 2007.

But he complained that only residents of Kinmen or those with household registration on the islet have the privilege to use the convenient route.

Kinmen presently operates direct ferry boat service to --iamen and Quanzhou harbors of China's Fujian Province only a few kilometers away.

The Matsu Island, under Taiwan's control, also runs ferry boats to separate harbors in Fujian daily.

Opposition presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou has promised to liberalize restrictions to allow more people to take advantage of the "mini three links" arrangement.

Ma has also pledged to adopt measures to attract more tourists from China to Taiwan and the offshore islands to create more job opportunities.

Lee welcomed Ma's proposed policies.

He suggested the NIA plan ahead, including expanding its facilities to accommodate between 1.5 million and 2 million people each year.

He expects a big surge in the number of travelers, especially during the weekends and traditional Chinese festivals like Chinese New Year.

A press report said yeterday the DPP government has contemplated upgrading the "mini three links" arrangement up to "medium three medium links" to make traveling easier for more people.

The same report in the United Evening News also mentioned Premier Chang Chun-hsiung will hold a Cabinet meeting today to discuss revising regulations to allow mainland Chinese people to purchase business and commercial properties in Taiwan.

Wu said he did not know if the existing administration of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party had any plans to liberalize travel policies.

But he said the NIA would be able to take necessary measures to provide better services to travelers, including beefing up staff and expanding facilities.

The trip to Kinmen helped him in researching what new measures can and should be taken if the government announces new and liberalization policies toward China, Wu said.

Taiwan's relations with China have again become a major issue of debate in the presidential election campaign before voters go to the polling stations on March 22.

DPP candidate Frank Hsieh, a former premier, has intensified an attack on Ma's proposal to establish a Greater China common market with China with hopes to avoid the marginalization of Taiwan's economic development.

It has been widely attributed that closer business and investment ties with China have been a major factor in South Korea's economic boom in recent years.

But Hsieh has kept telling voters that Ma's proposal for a common market with China will result in more people in Taiwan losing their jobs.

Premier Chang has also denied a media report about holding a meeting to liberalize policies toward China and adopt steps to upgrade and expand the "mini three links" arrangement.

When asked by reporters, Ma stressed that he welcomes both tourists and capital investments from China.

But he assured the voters that he will not introduce laborers from China at the expense of local resident's working rights.

He also clarified that he will enact regulations prohibiting Chinese buyers who purchase local real estate properties from selling their assets within a period of five years.

This will be part of his auxiliary measures to prevent investors' engage in realty speculation in Taiwan if he is elected, Ma explained.

The nation's new president will assume office on May 20.