Fundraisers needed:
Hsu Yu-chien, chairman of the architecture department at the Huafan Institute of Technology, surveyed manpower distribution at civil affairs authorities throughout Taiwan. After taking a close look at the situation, Hsu acquired great sympathy for civil affairs departments."The provincial Department of Civil Affairs, which oversees all Class B historic sites, is staffed by only two people, plus it must also take on election duties. At the local level there is normally just one person in this position."
"Now the cultural policy of the central authorities should be under attack," Hsu Yu-chien says. Nothing can be accomplished without the basic ingredients, and budgetary and planning departments must have flexibility when assessing the restoration of historic sites. Legislators should also support the government's cultural budget, not hack at it at will, as happened to half of the Ministry of the Interior's cultural assets work budget, or a full NT$250 million.
The price of preservation is high, the difficulty tremendous. "The government must be prepared to lose money at first," stresses Hsu Yu-chien.
"Actually, as everyone knows, the key is getting all responsible departments together over the issue," says Chao Wen-chieh, chief of the Historical Site Preservation Section at the Ministry of the Interior's Civil Affairs Department. The government is highly concerned with cultural development, but the problem at this time is fundraising, which calls for assistance from budgetary departments.
Taiwan is certainly not lacking for money, and historical assets should by no means be assigned to five people in the Ministry of the interior's Historical Site Preservation Section. One cultural figure says, "Popular forces can participate at every step." There are plenty of outstanding fundraisers among the people, so "all the government has to do is ride in on their coattails."
Strolling along Taiwan's old streets, what do we see? Billboards filled with real estate advertisements with words like "blue sky, green fields, user-friendly design, century-old village." Will tearing down old houses to make way for high rises really give us the quality of life we seek?
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The residents of the old Hukou Street find there is not enough space, and one has gone ahead to build a new home.
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Old rowhouses from the Japanese period still stand in quiet old Hukou Street, imparting a feeling of rhythmic elegance.
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The "road builders" were victorious over the group of people who wantedto keep the old Lin An-tai compound in its original place. At least the old homestead was able to find new life next to Sungchiang Park. (Sinorama file photo)
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Red brick adorned with detailed baroque patterns afford Taipei residents a unique atmosphere in which to carry out their shopping at Tihua Street.
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After successfully protesting historic site zoning restrictions, now that quiet has returned to Sanhsia's Minchuan Street, what path shall residents choose next?
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The Tamsui cultural bazaar is open on weekends and holidays: Visitors can take in the sunset by the river bank after a day at the market.
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A popular Class A historic site, the "Four-eyed Well," lies just off Chungyang Street in Makung city, Penghu County.
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On the old street winding down from Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple, all kinds of treats and handicrafts are sold. Visitors would have no trouble Spending an entire day here.
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Italy takes the prize for the most historic sites per square kilometer. Are ancient buildings better off in Italy than in Taiwan? This photo was taken in Florence.
The Tamsui cultural bazaar is open on weekends and holidays: Visitors can take in the sunset by the river bank after a day at the market.
A popular Class A historic site, the "Four-eyed Well," lies just off Chungyang Street in Makung city, Penghu County.
On the old street winding down from Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple, all kinds of treats and handicrafts are sold. Visitors would have no trouble Spending an entire day here.