Despite constant warnings that smoking is the chief cause of lung cancer, one of Taiwan's most popular cigarette brands is still called "Long Life." There was little inclination to change this situation until Prof. Lee Yu-chen urged the government to adopt the name "Short Life," instead. Prof. Lee, a public health scholar working in the United States, was among 237 experts taking part in the 1981 National Development Seminar held in Taipei July 6 to 20. Participants were divided into six groups to cover politics and diplomacy, education, culture and information, economics and public health. During the two-week discussions, the scholars came up with some 693 new ideas and suggestions.

The concept of holding National Development Seminars took hold during the dark days when the Republic of China was deprived of its United Nations membership and the Nixon administration was infatuated with the Mao Tse-tung regime. The seminars have been held once a year since the first one in 1972 except for 1979, when two were held in the wake of the Carter Administration's switch of diplomatic relations to Peiping.

The seminars have proved to be the best vehicle for Chinese intellectuals both at home and abroad to convey their views to the government during the difficult times faced by the nation. As well as strengthening national unity, they have enabled participants to convey what they have seen and heard in their motherland to the overseas Chinese community.

In his opening speech at this year's seminar, Premier Sun Yun-suan said: "The government has taken into consideration the seminar's views in formulating many of its major activities during the past few years, including the enactment of 'public officials election and recall law,' election of additional parliamentarians, separation between trial courts and prosecutor's offices, preparation for the national compensation law, opening of travel abroad, establishment of a money market, insurance of larger-denomination banknotes, gradual liberalization of foreign exchange rates, strengthening of local government, revision of the allotment of financial revenues and outlays for improving the finances of local governments, all-out implementation of grass-roots construction, promotion of cultural development, including the construction of cultural centers in cities and counties, implementation of the science and technology development plan, improvement of the industrial structure, strengthening of vocational training, formulation of energy conservation measures and diversification of energy sources, preparation for 'the environmental protection plan for the Taiwan area' to protect the ecological environment, strengthening of medical care and public health facilities, and expansion of the social insurance programs."

The implementation of these measures is evidence of the government's recognition of the value of the opinions put forward by the scholars. Of the 693 ideas suggested this year, several are considered pertinent at this stage of the nation's development. They include a call for an improvement in the way in which criminal suspects are interrogated in accordance with the law, expansion of the activities of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, enactment of a law to govern the activities of journalists, lifting of the ban on publishing new newspapers, prevention of newspaper mergers, convention of a world Chinese conference to determine the social and political system to be adopted in a reunified China, acceleration of research into production of a turbine engine, and establishment of an adult disease control network.

Particularly impressive was the dedication and enthusiasm of the participants. Scholars in the educational group pledged to work out a plan to improve the much-criticized joint entrance examination for colleges and universities. The science and technology group meet as early as 6 a.m. Dr. Tsao Jeh-hsin, one of the participants, openly expressed his regret that he had not contributed his efforts during the difficult times faced by the nation. Su Tung-chi, editor-in-chief of Taiwan Times said: "All of us competed to take the floor because we were afraid there would not be enough time for us to speak our minds. Everyone sought to contribute as much as he possibly could."

Both President Chiang Ching-kuo and Premier Sun Yun-suan attach great importance to the views of the scholars and specialists. The Premier personally joined in the discussions to explain the government's stand point. The Premier disclosed during one of the discussions that the Government is studying the establishment of a public television system. He also extended a welcome to overseas scholars who want to work in the Republic of China.

Although the views of participants are valuable, the government cannot afford to hold the seminars too often. All payment for the participants' board, lodging and travel expenses must come from the taxpayers, who are entitled to wonder whether the expenditure is worthwhile.

Many newspapers criticized the fact that the academic qualifications of many participants this year were not high enough. But this view was dismissed by Prof. Li Chan, head of the cultural and information group, who said newspapers were biased because their favorite scholars had not been included in the invitation list.

He explained: "Chinese scholars are scattered all over the world, with more than 20,000 in the United States alone. While many of the 1,000 scholars who have taken part in the 11 seminars held so far were not known to most people, though they had enviable academic accomplishments."

Commenting on another criticism that some of the views raised in the seminar were trivial, Prof. Li said: "One swallow does not make a summer." He added that critics knew little about the seminars and had neglected the fact that in the process of national modernization, new problems continuously emerge and new solutions must be found.

To close the information gap which arose at the latest seminar, the participants urged the establishment of a broadcasting college to train qualified personnel. There can be no doubt that the National Development Seminars are aiding Taiwan's progress from closed society to open society status. It is true that some of the same views are raised over and over again, but they cannot be considered trivial just because of this, since the government is reminded of their significance. When the time is ripe, the ideas will certainly be adopted. The establishment of the public TV system is a case in point. The idea has been put forward on many occasions, and has only recently been accepted by the government.

Prof. Li stressed that it is unreasonable to expect every point of view put forward at the seminar to be earthshaking. Even if one or two turn out to be practical, the seminar can be considered a success. Only one of the two weeks the seminar lasted was devoted to discussion, and it was impossible to work out concrete programs in such a short time. The true value of the seminar lay in its ability to work out new concepts, though it will take time to adopt them. It is therefore unfair to judge the value of the seminar purely according to its immediate results.

Another function of the seminar is to attract international publicity. There is no doubt that the country is facing great difficulties because of the Chinese Communists' efforts to divide ranks in free China and isolate the nation from the rest of the world. The seminar provided a chance for patriotic scholars to take part in national affairs, and it might also help win over some of the wavering elements. The real test lies in whether the seminar helped people to overcome their prejudices.

Discussing this point, Prof. Li said: "My contacts with participants convinced me that most of them have changed their attitude to a great extent, and many have become enthusiastic in support of the Republic of China's cause. If these scholars can pass on what they have seen and heard here to people in foreign countries, then the influence of the seminars will be immeasurably great in terms of money."

[Picture Caption]

1. Premier Sun Yun-suan addressing the opening session of the National Development Seminar. 2. President Chiang Ching-kuo entertains participants and their dependents at a garden party. 3. Premier and Mrs. Sun host a dinner party in honor of the participants. 4. The seminar was divided into six groups. Picture shows discussions in the economic groups.

1. Participants in the National Development Seminar inspect a nuclear power station at Chinshan in northern Taiwan. Picture shows a technician at the plant answering quest ions raised by visitors. 2. Mrs. Sun, wife of the Premier, entertains dependents of participants at a tea party. 3. Premier Sun greets the child of a participant at the dinner party.

Participants tour the China Shipbuilding Corp. yard at Kaohsiung.

President Chiang Ching-kuo entertains participants and their dependents at a garden party.

Premier and Mrs. Sun host a dinner party in honor of the participants.

The seminar was divided into six groups. Picture shows discussions in the economic groups.

Participants in the National Development Seminar inspect a nuclear power station at Chinshan in northern Taiwan. Picture shows a technician at the plant answering quest ions raised by visitors.

Mrs. Sun, wife of the Premier, entertains dependents of participants at a tea party.

Premier Sun greets the child of a participant at the dinner party.

Participants tour the China Shipbuilding Corp. yard at Kaohsiung.