"In the past four years that Premier Yu Kuo-hua has held office he has never gone on an inspection tour of an area during a holiday," says an official of the Executive Yuan who often plans Premier Yu Kuo-hwa's itinerary, since the premier is most unwilling to interrupt the vacations of his subordinates and of other people.
However, on August 20 to 21 Premier Yu broke his usual custom and went out for an inspection on Saturday and Sunday.
Just 36 hours before, Premier Yu was still on the other side of the world in Paraguay. On the afternoon of August 18, in the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport he spoke with reporters in depth while thinking of his next step.
On August 14 Premier Yu called on the concerned department heads, the provincial chairman, and the mayor of Kaohsiung to come together to assess disaster reports and to research methods of improving the situation.
In order to get a better understanding of how government construction was progressing, as well as speak face to face with the victims of the disaster, Premier Yu had to "impose on" the people. On early Saturday morning, the third day after the premier returned to the R.O.C., he left with Minister of Defense Cheng Wei-yuan, Minister of Communications Kuo Nan-hung, Chairman of the Council of Agriculture Yu Yu-hsien and Government Information Office's Director-General Shaw Yu-ming to inspect the disaster conditions.
Usually when the premier goes out on inspection he visits a city and its county. But this time he created a new record by inspecting Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung in two days.
Since the schedule was tight, as soon as the premier arrived at a certain place he would be briefed on the disaster conditions, take down some notes, and ask some questions and then move on to see the disaster area.
The Premier said, "We certainly have to be expeditious to relieve the people from the pain they have experienced." As for those who were lost or have been injured as a result of the flood, flooding of agricultural land, and houses which collapsed, we must act according to the provincial disaster relief programs, and handle the matter in a positive way. Roads and railroads which were damaged must be repaired as quickly as possible. It will be the responsibility of the Forestry Bureau to help the agricultural sector recultivate land and plant forests in order for the trees to absorb water and grow roots to provide support for the soil.
Besides the dikes of the river collapsing and the disaster caused by flooding, waters in Linpien, Pingtung, and Kouhu, Yinlin, overflowed and created great damage.
The year before last, on account of Typhoon Wayne, a sugar cane field in Kouhu village measuring more than 300 hectares was covered with seawater. Over the past two years the water has never receded but now the conditions caused by this most recent flood have created an even more serious situation.
The Yunlin County mayor, Hsu Wen-chih, asked the premier if this agricultural area could be used as shrimp farms.
"I've got to go and see for myself," the premier replied.
Once at the site the local people continually asked if the premier would allow them to make the area into shrimp farms in order to make a living.
"Of course I can consider your request," said the premier, "but we have to see whether doing so will result in subsidence of the land as happened in Linpien County."
"It certainly won't make the surrounding land sink. We plan to construct pipes to guide the sea water in," said a local person to Premier Yu with much assuredness.
An aquiculture expert who was on the scene said that bringing in seawater to cultivate fish poses many technological problems which must be dealt with. It's not all that easy.
"Let's not be hasty!" explained the premier to the people there. The government is determined about combating this problem, but the problem must first be evaluated by the experts.
Premier Yu noted that, "The government is willing to spend money, but by solving the problem of this 300 hectare piece of land we may be creating an even more serious ecological problem of land sinking."
An official who often accompanies the premier on his inspection trips says that the way the premier solves problems is based on facts, and he doesn't sweet talk the people and make promises he may not be able to keep.
[Picture Caption]
Premier Yu directs the head of the Provincial Water Conservancy Bureau to repair the dike in Chiayi.
Premier Yu discusses the cost of buying the land for public use with Kaohsiung Mayor Yu Ch'en Yueh-ying on top of Sanyeh Bridge in Kangshan Township in Kaohsiung County.
The Jen Ho Primary School in Linpien, Pingtung County found itself in two meters of water. Premier Yu pays a special visit and listens to a report by school Principal Li Wen (shaking hands with the premier).
A 300-hectare piece of farmland in Yunlin County. Since water from the ocean has soaked the land it has become a salt marsh unsuitable for planting.
More than 100 hectares of fine land in Chiayi were ruined in the flood. Gardens are cleaned up with the help of soldiers.
Premier Yu discusses the cost of buying the land for public use with Kaohsiung Mayor Yu Ch'en Yueh-ying on top of Sanyeh Bridge in Kangshan Township in Kaohsiung County.
The Jen Ho Primary School in Linpien, Pingtung County found itself in two meters of water. Premier Yu pays a special visit and listens to a report by school Principal Li Wen (shaking hands with the premier).
A 300-hectare piece of farmland in Yunlin County. Since water from the ocean has soaked the land it has become a salt marsh unsuitable for planting.
More than 100 hectares of fine land in Chiayi were ruined in the flood. Gardens are cleaned up with the help of soldiers.