It would hardly be going too far to say that the new premier, Hau Pei-tsun, has received more attention in coming to office than any other appointed government official in the Republic of China in recent years. The reactions to his nomination by the president varied from praise by some people to protests against "a military man forming a cabinet" by others.
The media have been filled with articles discussing what actions he may take now that Minister Hau has become Mr. Hau himself. In this issue, besides presenting an exclusive interview with Premier Hau, we have also asked Madame Hau to discuss his life as she sees it, to enable readers at home and abroad to gain a better understanding of the new premier.
Last June 4 a bloody massacre occurred on the mainland that shocked the entire world, and this June 4 people joined together in places around the globe to mark this tragic day for China. What have people learned from the event? Our overseas report "June 4 Memorial" can perhaps give you an inkling.
How are children on Taiwan spending their lot, hot summer vacations? "South Africa will be my fifth time out of the country and the 14th country we've visited. . . ." a seventh-grader writes in his diary. The number of children under twelve traveling overseas jumped from around 16,000 in 1981 to some 51,000 in 1989. What do those figures mean?
The popular series "My Country, My People" this issue visits Erh-lung Village, a place that most people think about only once a year and are hard-pressed to locate on a map. But it also has a moving story behind it that you shouldn't miss.
Our sinology series this month turns the spotlight on Japan and presents Nakamura Takashi, an expert in the early history of Taiwan, along with a rare historical document, the treaty that the Dutch signed in surrendering to Koxinga. And "It's Her--Daffodil!" reviews the charms of a famous comic coquette.