Kinmen magistrate envisions new role for outlying island

He envisions an image of reconciliation and cooperation, coupled with a congenial environment for cross-Taiwan Strait relations, which would allow greater possibilities for the Kinmen people and create a new role for Kinmen.

“Kinmen can play a pivotal role in the transportation network in the coastal Fujian region,” said Lee, noting that Kinmen has the advantage of geographical proximity to Xiamen, one of China's most prosperous port cities.

Kinmen County is an island group that consists of 12 isles, the main ones being Greater Kinmen and Little Kinmen. The isles are located about 230 kilometers west of Taiwan proper and 10 kilometers east of Xiamen.

Direct cross strait transportation links started with Kinmen-Xiamen ferry services in 2001 when the Taiwan government first implemented the so-called “mini three links.”

“Kinmen managed to establish systematic operations in the first few years despite the very rigid restrictions under the Democratic Progressive Party administration,” Lee said.

Prior to June 19, 2008, only residents of Kinmen and Taiwanese businessmen based in China were allowed to travel via the Kinmen Xiamen ferry service. With the opening of the service to all documented travelers, the travel volume increased from 10,656 passenger trips in 2001 to 644,756 trips in 2009, according to statistics compiled by the National Immigration Office.

“Currently, there are two Kinmen-Xiamen sea routes and one Kinmen- Quanzhou route, and we hope that in the near future Kinmen can become a hub with additional routes to Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chaozhou,” Lee said.

Currently, the Kinmen-Xiamen ferry service begins at 8:00 a.m. daily and runs every half an hour until 5:30 p.m. A one-way trip, which takes about 30 minutes, costs NT$650 from Kinmen and 130 yuan from Xiamen.

“The county government is discussing with the travel industry the possibility of extending the service hours, in view of the fact that an increasing number of tourists to Kinmen are choosing to go over to Xiamen for day tours, taking advantage of the visa-free travel between the two ports,” the magistrate said.

He suggested that the local tourism industry may benefit from a nighttime ferry and cruise service.

When direct transportation, trade and postal links between Taiwan and China were first fully implemented on Dec. 15, 2008, the advantage that Kinmen had during the mini-link years became questionable.

“While some were worrying that Kinmen's emerging opportunities would be curtailed, many Kinmen people, who have learned to live with what they can get, began to think of new directions for development of the island group,” Lee said.

Kinmen, which was under martial law for almost half a century, has no big businesses or industrial establishments. Some 70 percent of its employed population work for government agencies. The islanders enjoy good social welfare, thanks to rewards from the highly successful medium-sized Kinmen Kaoliang Liquor Inc.

Lee thinks that the islands' war legacy, as well as their carefully restored Mingnan (southern Fujian) architecture, are unique characteristics on which the county's tourism industry can be developed.

In 1949, the 150 square kilometer island group became an outpost for Taiwan after the nationalist army, facing one after another setback in battles with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on the Chinese mainland, set up a garrison command on Greater Kinmen.

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