Liu Chiu-ping is a restaurant owner in the remote island of Penghu Prefecture between Taiwan and the China mainland. Lo Wen-tang manages a hospital in Ilan prefecture on the east coast of Taiwan. Lin Yin owns a ice cream shop in Tali, Taichung Prefecture, and Yang Hsu is the director of the Liukui Orphanage in Kaohsiung Prefecture. They and seven others from different occupations and places, with their wives, all came to Taipei one day shortly before this Chinese New Year to present a bas relief to their mutual good friend--President Chiang Ching-kuo.

The 1.5 by 2.2 meter fibre glass engraving depicts President Chiang in casual clothes, chatting with these 11 old friends who surround him. The background displays the stone tablet Indicating Taiwan's geographical center in Puli, Nantou Prefecture.

From his taking office as premier in 1972, President Chiang has travelled more than 200,000 kilometers to every corner of the nation, "making many good friends and having sincere talks with them."

"Meeting with you in your places of work has left deep impressions and given me memories which I shall treasure always." President Chiang told the 11 friends at the reception.

The friends equally treasure their friendship with and memories of the President.

68-year-old Liu Chiu-ping recalls how the President walked into his restaurant for the first time eight years ago. "He went around from table to table, shaking hands with everyone, including me, even though my hands were oily and dirty."

Liu Yin, the ice cream shop man, says that the President has visited his ice cream shop 11 times since 1975, and each time has shown deep concern about him and his business. "How is your ice cream business in the winter time?" The president once asked. On each visit, he orders a serving of taro ice cream, the shop's special flavor, and insists on paying every time.

Yang Hsu, remembers his encounters with the President for their love and generosity. One day in 1973 on an outing Premier Chiang Ching-kuo spotted a flag flying in the deep green of Liukui of rural Kaohsiung Prefecture. When he learned that it was the playground of an orphanage, he crossed a suspension bridge to play volleyball with the orphans. Since then, President has visited the orphanage five times, bestowing presents and love on the children, including a new building to accommodate 112 orphans.

The stories told by these old friends only reveal a fraction of what President Chiang has done. The engraving, which demonstrates his friendliness and love for the people, will be permanently displayed for public viewing at the entrance of Taipei Youth Park.

[Picture Caption]

1. A candid shot of President Chiang Ching-kuo with Tashi County chief Huang Ping-chang at Tashi, Taoyuan Prefecture. 2. Chiang Ching-kuo with 11 old friends and their wives in front of the bas relief. 3. Chatting with one of the old friends, Lee Chuang-hsien, owner of the Tung-hsin Restaurant.

1. Visiting Liu-kui Orphanage always gives President extra pleasure. 2. Chatting with his old friend, Chang Tsan-shong, owner of the Ta-Chung Restaurant at Kuoshing, Nantou Prefecture, and his relatives. 3. Chatting with Pung-shuei Restaurant owner Hsiao Shien-tse and his family in Hsiao's restaurant. 4. President Chiang encourages county mayor Kung Shing-tung of Hongchuan, Pingtung Prefecture, to do a good job. 5. President Chiang finds out about dry bean curd manufacturing process in Tashi, Taoyuan.

1. Owner Tai Rong-yuan of a Hualien dumpling shop tells President Chiang his secret dumpling formula. 2. The President greets a baby in front the Mei-fong taro ice cream shop. 3. President Chiang advises his old friend Lu Chiu-ping to drink less and work harder.

Chiang Ching-kuo with 11 old friends and their wives in front of the bas relief.

Chatting with one of the old friends, Lee Chuang-hsien, owner of the Tung-hsin Restaurant.

Visiting Liu-kui Orphanage always gives President extra pleasure.

Chatting with his old friend, Chang Tsan-shong, owner of the Ta-Chung Restaurant at Kuoshing, Nantou Prefecture, and his relatives.

Chatting with Pung-shuei Restaurant owner Hsiao Shien-tse and his family in Hsiao's restaurant.

President Chiang encourages county mayor Kung Shing-tung of Hongchuan, Pingtung Prefecture, to do a good job.

President Chiang finds out about dry bean curd manufacturing process in Tashi, Taoyuan.

Owner Tai Rong-yuan of a Hualien dumpling shop tells President Chiang his secret dumpling formula.

The President greets a baby in front the Mei-fong taro ice cream shop.

President Chiang advises his old friend Lu Chiu-ping to drink less and work harder.