Q: In what way is the recently elevated Department of Environmental Protection different from the earlier Bureau of Environmental Protection.

A: Organizationally, the Bureau of Environmental Protection was a subordinate unit under the Department of Health, and its priority was low. Because of this its influence in the decision-making process was slight. Now it is a Cabinet level unit directly under the Executive Yuan, and its priority has been raised to the decision-making level.

I see this as a major policy shift given the last thirty or forty years--from seeing economic development as the leading priority to having both economics and environmental protection valued.

Q: It cannot be denied that economic development is still important for us. When there are conflicts in the future between environmental protection and economics, how do you plan to handle them?

A: Environmental protection involves broad areas--not only economics but also, for example, traffic, since cars generate air pollution. Therefore the DEP has to face the pressure of many "big units" and it is necessary to communicate, and to use legislation to achieve controls, in order to avoid conflicts which will again raise problems of negotiations.

Further, the success of environmental protection cannot just rely on the elevation of the DEP or an increase in its personnel. It is very important also that the public have an environmental consciousness.

Q: Therefore, environmental education will be one of the main focuses of attention in the future?

A: In the future the DEP will have six key working points.

The first is organization. I hope within six months to recruit additional personnel and accomplish the setting of policy.

The second is the setting of standards in our work. Everyone says that the environment is a hopeless mess, but the real extent of the pollution still needs investigation. After we understand the extent of the pollution, then we can set long-and short-term goals for improvement.

The third is legislative work. Current water, soil, and air laws need revision and many other laws need to be passed.

The fourth is social education. The problem cannot be solved by the government alone. I hope to coordinate with the Ministry of Education and private groups to all work together.

The fifth is precise enforcement. In the past, enforcement was sometimes relaxed, sometimes tight. . . . Only with precise enforcement can the people know what they can and cannot do.

The last is to undertake environmental engineering. This is one of our weak spots and requires long-term promotion.

Q: Will your experience as a legislator have any positive or negative influences on your future work?

A: The legislative Yuan has been a very good training ground, allowing me to be familiar with each department's decision-making process. . . of course another place where I get an advantage is that it is relatively easier to communicate with legislators.

Q: But intervention by representatives on others' behalfs is often an obstacle to enforcement.

A: The representatives role is to speak out for the public. . . . The most important thing is whether or not the intervention is legal. If it is, then perhaps the executive agency is in error--and this kind of "intervention" should be encouraged.

We also hope to be able to use the representatives for "counter intervention" [i.e., communicating to the public on behalf of the DEP] and make the representatives into a communications channel.

Q: Since representatives have the need to win votes under the pressures of elections, is such "counter intervention" practicable?

A: In fact, representatives are often in a quandary. . . most of those demanding intervention are minority interest groups who sacrifice the interests of the silent majority. I do not wish to stand in conflict with representatives, but want to communicate to solve problems.

Q: You have said that the position of Director is that of a policy maker, and it is not necessary for him to understand specific technology. But if a general does not know his forces, can he win battles?

A: You're right. A government official must fully understand the situation when making decisions. . . but one need not do the environmental research by oneself, work which can be given to scholars and specialists. But when they come up with Plans A, B, and C, then I must know how to choose.

The question is whether or not I can learn, understand, analyze, and decide on a situation in the shortest possible time.

I have already spent a lot of time on this aspect, and I have confidence that I can do a good job.