Decision to Completely Lift Ban on International Direct-Dial Public Telephones

The ban on international direct-dial public telephones is being completely lifted, the Directorate General of Telecommunications in the Ministry of Communications has indicated. The nation's intelligence and security agencies have agreed to open the service, and the directorate expects that more than 600 public telephones with directdial international service will be set up around the country by the end of June. The number will be expanded during the next fiscal year depending on demand.

Most of the international direct-dial public telephones will also be capable of handling local and long-distance domestic calls, but a small number will be restricted to international calls only. In either case, labels and instructions will be clearly marked in Chinese and English. For international calls, the telephones will accept only NT$10 coins, automatically rejecting NT$1 or NT$5 coins. For local or domestic long-distance calls, all three coins can be used.

A total of 653 international direct-dial public telephones will be installed at a wide variety of locations, including airports, harbors, train stations, tourist hotels, airline companies, tourist spots, large hospitals, major streets in commercial districts, universities, highway rest stops, industrial science parks, foreign affairs and trade centers, international activity centers, and the directorate's main business offices.

The telephones will assess charges in terms of so many seconds per NT$10. Call units may range from five seconds to more than ten seconds per NT$10, depending on the area called and the time of day. Card-operated telephones will consume NT$10 of value for each call unit and will flash a warning on the display screen when only NT$20 of value remains in the card. Upon insertion of a new card, any remaining value on the old card will automatically be credited to the call, which will continue uninterrupted.

Application Procedures to Exchange Driver's Licenses for Persons Returning from Overseas

An overseas reader recently wrote to the Taipei City Office of Motor Vehicle Inspection inquiring whether "an overseas student in the United States holding a driver's license or an international driver's license issued by the U.S. government can exchange it for an ROC driver's license."

The office indicates that a valid driver's license issued by a foreign government may be exchanged for an ROC driver's license with the submission of the following items: (1) a completed driver's license registration application; (2) a valid driver's license issued by a foreign government (or issuing agency) together with a photocopy; and (3) an ROC identification card or alien resident certificate. Persons exchanging an international driver's license must submit their passport for verification.

In addition, applicants must pass a physical checkup at a public hospital, submit three one-inch photos in the form shown on the application, and pay a license fee of NT$150.

Major Points of Visits to Mainland Relatives by Faculty and Staff ofPublic Schools Announced

The Ministry of Education has announced a "Current Stage of Regulations for Applications to Visit Mainland Relatives by the Faculty and Staff of Public Universities and the Staff of Academic Research Agencies," effective immediately.

The ministry indicates that the principals of middle and elementary schools and the faculty, staff, guards, technicians, and maintenance personnel of schools at all levels as well as military training instructors without military affiliation may apply to visit relatives on the mainland. In principle, visits should be made during summer or winter vacation, but trips to attend funerals or visit the ailing may also be applied for. Applications to visit relatives on the mainland by part-time workers at public schools or the National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine who concurrently hold another job will be handled according to their original status.

Principals applying to visit relatives on the mainland must report through the educational administrative agency in charge, while other personnel should apply through the school or agency in which they work to the Red Cross of the Republic of China, which will then forward their application to the Bureau of Entry and Exit in the Ministry of the Interior for processing. At the same time a copy will be sent to notify the Ministry of Education and the various educational administrative agencies in charge. With the exception of persons with a major assignment uncompleted who are unable to find a substitute, all applications will be forwarded for processing.

The Ministry of Education indicates that applications to visit relatives on the mainland can be approved within a half month at the fastest, but if the applicant must travel through Hong Kong to change planes, then about one month is needed.

In addition, personnel commissioned by a government agency to take part in research related to national defense who should be restricted from visiting the mainland may be notified by the commissioning agency of that restriction at any time, either directly or through their school. Personnel who are so commissioned and have not been notified should apprise themselves through their school of the opinion of the commis-sioning agency before making an application to visit relatives on the mainland.

For the faculty and staff of public schools applying to visit relatives on the mainland, the ministry has set up two telephone hot lines in its personnel department to provide needed services and answer related questions. The numbers are (02) 321-1901 and 394-2507. They will be staffed during normal office hours.

Overseas Experts Sought for Participation in Development of Specially Zoned Area Around the Taipei Train Station

To help ensure the successful development of the specially zoned area around the Taipei train station, the Taipei city government is looking for experienced experts or consulting firms from overseas to take part in the project.

The train station has long served as the main gateway to the city. The construction of the Taipei subway system has vacated many new sites, and the success of the urban development, architectural styles, and space allocation of the area will have a major effect on the look of the city and image of the nation. The government hopes that overseas experts and consultants can work together with domestic construction firms and academic institutions from the viewpoints of urban planning, financing, and urban management in exploring the comprehensive utilization of space in the area and in determining urban design control, development methods for public and private lands, development organizations, implementation schedules, and the like in order to promote the comprehensive development of the entire area.

The specially zoned area has a planned total area of 46.21 hectares, nine-tenths of which is public land. The consulting fee expenditures would be around NT$15 million. Overseas consulting firms or academic institutions with the relevant expertise and experience are encouraged to come forward.

Interested firms should send information on their company organization, the experience and expertise of their personnel, samples of past planning, and related areas directly to the Urban Development Office in the Department of Public Works, Taipei city government.

Address: 4F, No. 92, Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 4, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

Tel: (02) 394-9431 (planning section).