Minister of Communications, Lien Chan

November 1982

中文

Ministry of Communications Minister Lien Chan.

Minister of Communications Lien Chan is a native son of Taiwan even though he was born in Mainland China and did not return to Taiwan until he was twelve. His grandfather Lien Heng was the author of A General History of Taiwan. His father, Lien Chen-tung, is one of the most venerated Taiwanese of his generation and he served in government for over 40 years holding such posts as head of the Provincial Department of Civil Affairs and Minister of the Interior.

As an only child and the eldest grandson it is easy to imagine all the love and care that was bestowed on Minister Lien as a child. He himself admits that he was not always a model child, but under the supervision of his family and his mother's guidance, this carefree nature was gradually brought under control and his interest was turned to books. After graduating from the National Taiwan University's Department of Political Science, Minister Lien went to the U.S. where he studied international relations and international law, eventually earning a doctorate from the University of Chicago.

While studying in the U.S., Minister Lien also met Fang Yu, a former Miss China, whom he later married. After teaching for three years in the U.S., Lien Chan then returned to Taiwan with his wife.

The first job he obtained upon his return was as a visiting professor at his alma mater, NTU, in the Department of Political Science. The very next year he was appointed chairman of the department. He remained at NTU seven years, eventually becoming chairman of the Political Science Research Institute. He then went into public service acting as the Republic of China's ambassador to El Salvador. Later, before becoming Minister of Communications he served as Chairman of the Kuomintang Department of Youth Affairs and Deputy Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Kuomintang.

Minister Lien received a very fine education and has a good scholastic base. He has also shown an ability to combine what he has studied with what he has learned through experience. But most important to his rapid and smooth rise has been his family background. Since he was small he has been exposed to everyday dealings with people and events. Later when he went into public service, his way was made easier because of all the people who were familiar with his family and could give him help and advice.

When Lien Chan was first appointed Minister of Communications a scant eleven months ago there was a great amount of anticipation, for his education and experience had done nothing to prepare him for this new field. He too admits he was a little scared at first. Lien says, "I just worked even harder, and studied earnestly." He threw himself completely into his work and in fifty short days was familiar with all his new responsibilities. To cope with all the new duties he faced, Minister Lien instituted his own philosophy within the ministry: delegate responsibility, and keep the scale within limits. If it is not a policy issue, each chief can handle it himself; each unit handles its own affairs. Only those matters which will be presented to the Executive Yuan or involve policy issues are handled by the minister himself. He has not only saved himself a lot of work but also increased work efficiency and given those people actually responsible the opportunity to execute their duties.

Since assuming the office of Minister of Communications, Lien Chan has gone to work early every morning and returned home late every night. Not only has this reduced the time he has to spend at home and deprived him of the comforts of home and family; but also it has cut into the time he has habitually spent reading.

Mrs. Lien, Fang Yu, makes sure that everything at home is in order so that the minister is not burdened by any family problems when he is at work. In addition to being a minister's wife and a mother of four children, Fang Yu is also a professor of modern Chinese literature at Soochow University. She has also compiled a collection of works written by Lien Chan's grandfather, Lien Heng.

It was decided in 1969 to implement a system of mass transit and to put the rail lines in downtown Taipei below ground. However, because no agreement on method could be reached, and also because of the protests of experts who claimed that the costs were too high and the benefits too few, these projects were never carried out. Minister Lien has made these two of his priorities. He said, "Mass transit is an inevitable development in modern society. If we build it now we are planning ahead for the future. However if we wait until the city reaches its saturation point and then do it, it will already be too late."

At present, the mass transit plans call for using the Taipei train station as the center of a matrix 30 kilometers in radius. The system will run east to Keelung, west to Chungli and Taoyuan, north to Tamsui, and south to Tahsi and Wulai. The most important part of the plan calls for placing all railroad tracks in the central city area below ground and that is the first part of the scheme that will be planned.

Another plan on the drawing board calls for enlarging the Taichung and Kaohsiung port facilities and making Taiwan into an international ocean cargo transit center and the ROC into the economic and trade center of the Southeast Asian region.

As the years have gone by, Lien Chan has remained a professor at Taiwan University's Department of Political Science. Currently he is teaching a course in the graduate school on "Modern Western Political Thought". He feels that because of the volatile nature of the international situation and abundance of lies that are told, students often become lost.

But actually, just being Minister of Communications is work enough, why does he need the added burden? "Currently the country faces many difficult problems; there is a strong enemy directly ahead and under these circumstances every citizen should understand his role and play it well. Public servants especially should contribute all their abilities to the nation and society. By doing their part they can then help promote a strong and prosperous country."

The nation is indeed fortunate to have such a committed, hard working, energetic, and patriotic official as Lien Chan.

[Picture Caption]

1. Ministry of Communications Minister Lien Chan. 2. Mrs. Lien Fang Yu. 3. The Liens at home celebrating their daughter's first birthday.

1. One of the Lien's sons telling his mother a secret. 2. Their seventeenth anniversary picture. 3. Minister Lien said there is still a lot of work that needs to be done.

1. Minister Lien during the interview. 2. In 1975 as the ROC's ambassador to El Salvador, Minister Lien met with that country's president and vice-president. 3,4. Minister Lien greets the Saudi Minister of Transportation.