The Ministry of Education (MOE), which has jurisdiction over the hall and the square, said the compromise should appease people on both sides of the controversial issue.

"We believe that this compromise will contribute to social harmony," said Vice Minister of Education Lu Mu-lin.

Lu was referring to controversy over the designation of the hall, dedicated in 1980 to commemorate the late President Chiang Kai-shek, who was regarded as a controversial figure for his totalitarian rule of Taiwan while fighting against attempted invasions by Chinese Communist troops.

Chiang was also seen by many as a hero who helped put a check on Communist expansion in the Asia-Pacific region while promoting education, democracy and free economic system which he had no chance to carry out in China during eight years of war resisting Japan's invasion and the ensuing civil war against the Communists who were aided by the Soviet Union.

Former President Chen Shui-bian of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) renamed the memorial hall as the "National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall" and an inscription on the main gate to the complex in the CKS Park was also changed to "Liberty Square" from the original "Ta Chung Chih Cheng," which translates as "Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness," with public funds in May 2007.

Lu said the plaque restoration project cost an additional NT$1.1 million.

He said the previous government's unilateral and reckless move of renaming the memorial hall was controversial and did not meet legal requirements and follow administrative procedures.

"In line with the provisions of a number of laws, including the Cultural Heritage Preservation Act and the Basic Organic Law of Central Administrative Agencies, the Ministry of Education needed to reinstate the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall plaque removed by the DPP, to protect the dignity of our laws," Lu explained.To avoid interruption or disturbances by opponents, the MOE sought assistance from the Taipei City Government to assign police with barricades erected at major entrances to the complex to ensure public safety and smooth progress of the work.

After the reinstatement of the original name plaque, the contents of an exhibition room featuring artifacts and documents related to the late president will also be rearranged.

"We will follow the principles of pragmatism, diversity and truth in presenting the late president's life story and career achievements," Lu said, adding that the exhibition will highlight Taiwan's democratic spirit, as well as its cultural and ethnic diversity.

Lu said the dismantled Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall plaque will be properly preserved in the hall's storage house just like the Ta Chung Chih Cheng plaque that was removed earlier.

DPP chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen quickly condemned the move, saying her party could not condone a "measure under which the nation's public assets are used to commemorate a dictator who has slaughtered his own people."

Tsai said the plaque restoration marks the bankruptcy of President Ma Ying-jeou's credibility because he had promised that his government would hold public forums to discuss the issue before taking any concrete actions.

Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Ma has not backed off from his promise, as the MOE has already held three public seminars to solicit opinions from various sectors of society.

"Opinions expressed during those sessions supported the restoration of the plaque," he added.

Meanwhile, Government Information Office Minister Su Jun-pin said the MOE has followed the due process of law in carrying out the name plaque replacement project.

"The Executive Yuan will continue to direct all government agencies to hear the voices of various political groups," Su said, adding that open-mindedness is the best way to forge social consensus.

The DPP and its supporters blame Chiang for the 228 Incident on Feb. 28, 1947 in which then-Taiwan Governor Chen Yi, dispatched by Chiang to take over Taiwan after the Japanese pullout, sent troops to crack down on public disturbances.

The disturbances were sparked by a street vendor resisting arrest after being caught for selling untaxed cigarettes in Taipei. Many earlier and new immigrants to the island were killed in violent confrontations.

Chen, who received military training in Japan and married a Japanese wife, was later tried and executed for colluding with Chinese Communists.