GIO allows China-invested Hong Kong and Macau media to post reporters in Taiwan

In an effort to meet the reporting needs of China-invested media organizations in Hong Kong and Macau, the Government Information Office and the Mainland Affairs Council have decided to allow correspondents from such organizations to be posted in Taiwan. The government has formulated the "Directions Concerning Newsgathering Activities of Correspondents Stationed in Taiwan by Chinese-invested Hong Kong and Macau Media." The move is aimed an enabling the Hong Kong and Macau public to have a better understanding of Taiwan, and to strengthen the relationship between Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The government also hopes that the liberalization will help to provide more balance reports by the Chinese media about Taiwan, helping the Chinese public to have access to more information about developments in Taiwan, the GIO said.

According to the "Directions Concerning Newsgathering Activities of Correspondents Stationed in Taiwan by Chinese-invested Hong Kong and Macau Media," each medium can station two journalists in Taiwan for a period of up to three months for each mission, with one extension allowed. The journalists are free to cover news events in Taipei, Kaohsiung and all other counties and cities on Taiwan. If they have the need to visit the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu, however, they will be first required to file an application with the appropriate authorities.

The GIO said that since November 2000 when the Chinese media and journalists were first allowed to post journalists on Taiwan, the coverage of Taiwan has increased. However, in light of China's press restrictions that inhibit press freedom, the reports about Taiwan still remain biased. Given that the circulation and sales of Chinese-invested Hong Kong and Macau media organizations are subject to fewer restrictions in China, the liberalization of allowing these media outlets to station journalists in Taiwan will allow Hong Kong, Macau and Chinese residents to get a better understanding of Taiwan's democratic, free and pluralistic society through their reporting.

The GIO added that the new regulations provide more flexibility to journalists stationed in Taiwan by Chinese-invested Hong Kong and Macau media in comparison with the restrictions placed on members of the Taiwan media stationed in China by Chinese authorities. The GIO said that the journalists stationed in Taiwan will be able to sense the high degree of press freedom and freedom of speech in Taiwan, and will also witness the vibrant development of the Taiwanese press, enabling them to see the highly competitive state of the press here. The GIO stressed that the latest liberalization exhibits Taiwan's good will in working to promote cross-strait press exchanges, as well as interaction with the Hong Kong and Macau media. It is hoped that this will boost mutual understanding and interaction between Taiwan and China, the GIO said.