Public policy studies have only been developing in the ROC for a decade or so. But they have made valuable contributions, and been given the highest affirmation by the international scholarly community.

From June 12 to 14, 1989, the Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission of the Executive Yuan held the "International Conference on Policy Planning." This conference had substantial significance for the quality of policy planning today and in the future as well as in terms of establishing international scholarly status. Five points deserve attention:

(1) This was the first ever scholarly conference on public policy held by the ROC government. This indicates that the government has already abandoned the traditional view of relying only on public administration, and is combining it with public policy.

(2) Public policy is broad, including planning, administration, evaluation. . . . Currently the main focus for developing countries is policy planning. Policy planning is the most important product of the "Taiwan experience," and is the most scientific component of that experience.

(3) Contents of discussion focused on how to reconcile policy and public opinion in this transitional period of political development. The conflicts between the two in areas of farm policy, environmental protection, population, resources, education, housing, and health generated the most debate.

(4) Participating foreign scholars were mostly top specialists in public policy. This opportunity to come together in Taiwan and research the rich planning experience of the ROC will raise the status of the ROC in the international scholarly community.

(5) Domestic participants included not only scholars but also planning personnel from the government. This linking of practical experience and theory kept the conference from being unrealistic or having an "ivory tower" image.

Despite progress, public policy studies in the ROC still face problems needing scholarly and government effort to overcome. As a specialist in the field for over ten years, the writer would like to offer the following opinions:

(1) Though the government has done much to promote public policy studies, as yet, unlike in the U.S., they have no codified role. U.S. government institutions have policy analysis and evaluation units, and operating units at all levels have the power to do planning, administration, and evaluation work. In the ROC only the RDEC does evaluation, but has no mandate to plan. Ministries have no planning, administration, or evaluation sections; while some units have R&D sections, they lack specialized personnel. Fortunately, relatively new units, such as the Environmental Protection Administration, have such sections; the government should continue this trend and construct public policy administrative structures.

(2) Pay and training of government public policy personnel should be enhanced, and they should be hired as specialists with a specialized exam, as are, for example, economic analysts. Universities should establish public policy programs and offer Master of Public Policy degrees.

(3) Besides the executive, legislative institutions should also establish policy planning and analysis units. Currently legislative bodies have no specialized advisory units for policy analysis or evaluation in the deliberation of bills. Fortunately, the Legislative Yuan has just this year established the "Legislative Consultation Center," which is a positive step. Still, legislators must rely heavily on subjective judgements.

(4) The lack of a policy evaluation viewpoint in executive institutions is a major reason for the commonly low administrative efficiency. Every year there are irregularities in spending, also a result of the lack of policy evaluation. Plainly speaking, policy planning has made great strides, but policy evaluation still awaits realization.

(5) Public policy research is also a comprehensive operating philosophy for political development, including policy culture, communication, and interest articulation and aggregation. It is therefore an indicator of political development.

The tomb of Lin Yun-ch'ing, an official during the Ching dynasty, is the only historic site to speak of at Tali. The grounds are also said to be the ancestral resting place of the Lin fami ly of Wufeng. The paddies behind the stele were originally a graveyard, but the only indications now are the steles, the stone candle sticks, and the overgrown gravesites.

The thick foliage of this tree spreads out like an umbrella. A local legend relates that the Chia-ch'ing emperor of the Ching dynasty once rested under it during his tour of Taiwan. The tree has been deified under the title of Parasol Tree King.