Premier Liu starts tackling major tasks

Liu pledged that he and his colleagues will make substantial achievements in the shortest period of time to live up to the people’s expectations.

He said the Cabinet will fulfill the campaign promises of President Ma Ying-jeou by implementing policies with feasible and substantive measures.

Priorities on the agenda include the hike in oil prices, probably in June, followed by a raise in power rates, most likely starting in July.

Supplementary measures will be employed to defuse the anticipation of more price increases and forestall the risks of inflation.

The prices were frozen by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration against the free market mechanism before the major elections.

Other major issues to be discussed at the first weekly Cabinet meeting tomorrow will include the direct flight service across the Taiwan Strait, the wider opening of the doors to Chinese tourists, and the conversion between Taiwan currency and Chinese yuan.

Liu received the seal of office from his predecessor Chang Chun-hsiung, with Vice President Vincent Siew as witness at the handover ceremony.

Calling the premiership a “laborious task,” Liu said he will carry out his duties cautiously as if “walking on thin ice.”

He was an old hand at administrative work, having served as vice premier from 1997-2000 as well as chairman of the National Science Council and minister of transportation and communications during the previous Kuomintang administration that ended in May 2000.

Liu stated that no matter which political party is in power, the people have a common desire to see progress in national and social development.

“From today onward, the administrative team is entering a new era. Our people and the international community are expecting the new team to adopt some new practices and find ways to resolve or address the problems facing the country at present,” Liu said.

Liu said his Cabinet will also complete the projects initiated but left unfinished by the DPP administration.

Necessary adjustments to those policies that required changes will be completed as early as possible.

Addressing the changeover ceremony, Siew noted that the country has witnessed two peaceful transitions of power from one political party to another since 2000, a democratic process that he said has been widely recognized in the international community.

“This is a success shared by all the political parties and people in Taiwan. Such achievement is the pride of all ethnic Chinese around the world,” he said.

Outgoing Premier Chang said the peaceful transition of power has showcased Taiwan’s democracy and progressiveness, and he urged the public to value the hard-won achievement.

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