Editor's Note

The outward diffusion of the Chinese people has been quickening in the last decade of the twentieth century.

As for Taiwan, people setting up factories in Thailand, packing off with the family to settle in Australia or plopping down hard cash to buy property in Monterrey Park, California, are news no longer. Thanks to the island's "economic miracle," these well-heeled new immigrants and investors are welcomed in many nations with open arms.

As for the mainland, the bamboo curtain has lifted a bit in recent years in the wake of economic reforms. The United States has granted the mainland an immigration quota of 20,000 a year since 1979, and large numbers of mainland students have gone to Japan, Europe and North America for advanced study. No matter where they may find themselves, the majority of the students who have gotten out don't want to go back, especially those who took to the streets last year in sympathy for the students at Tienanmen Square.

As for Hong Kong, the relentless approach of 1997 spells an ever increasing exodus. And just at a time when many Hong Kong people are sparing no effort to come up with a way to leave, countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand are beckoning vigorously to attract the funds and expertise they offer.

Following large-scale waves since the late 18th century and after the Second World War, another surge of Chinese immigration is in the making.

"Chinese are found wherever an ocean laps the shore." How are these overseas Chinese getting along? Can they still read the language and do they remember who they are? What insights can their experiences give to those who come after them?

Sinorama has always prided itself on serving as a bridge of communication between Chinese at home and abroad. In addition to conveying up-to-the-minute information from the homeland to the overseas community, we have sent numerous reporting teams to the far corners of the world in recent years to gather firsthand information on the life of overseas Chinese.

This issue's cover story, "All Across the World: The Chinese Global Village," presents an overview of the information and materials we have accumulated, sketching an outline of the distribution and way of life of Chinese overseas. Reports from the United States, South Africa and Tahiti narrow the focus for close-ups of the development and current condition of three typical overseas Chinese communities.

Two tragedies that recently occurred in deporting illegal immigrants back to the mainland from Taiwan attracted great concern at home and abroad. Just how do these illegal immigrants attempt to get in? How many have been caught in recent years? After they are caught, how are they detained and deported? And what improvements will be made to prevent similar incidents from reoccurring in the future? "When Push Comes to Shove: Repatriating Mainland Chinese Deportees" gives you a detailed report.

Our "Chinese in the Spotlight" feature this month introduces world-renowned bridge-builder Lin Tung-yen, whose latest concept is a Bridge of Peace that would link Alaska and Siberia. On a less grandiose note, "Lin Chih-mu, Taiwan's Suspension Bridge 'King'" talks about the man who has built more than 50 percent of the suspension bridges on Taiwan.

In time for the seventh lunar month, popularly known as Ghost Month, this issue offers a special report on "You Can't Take It With You--But You Can Have It Sent Along Later," telling you where the bulk of the spirit money burned this month comes from.

Out of concern for the environment, we have begun using recycled paper for our "Potpourri" section, which has no color photographs and does not entail questions of printing quality. Statistics show that if full use is made of recycled paper, 600,000 trees can be spared around the world every year. Let's work together in doing our bit to cherish the environment we all share!

[Picture Caption]

Senior editor Chang Chin-ju (right) interviewed the family of Lin Kao-hsing in New Zealand. They recently immigrated there from Taiwan. (photo by Vincent Chang)

James Liang (left) of the Chinese Consular Gazette in South Africa, talks with Sinorama Deputy Editor-in-Chief Sunny Hsiao (right) about the joys and hardships of running a business overseas. (photo by Huang Lili)