Around Kaohsiung.
A Community Link
NEW VIEWS: Public Notice

Updates, New Venues, Deletions,
Corrections and Expanded details
refer to listings published in
Around Kaohsiung. A Community Guide.
Recommendations
refer to contributions offered since publication

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Dates indicate when items were added to this page

GARBAGE COLLECTION 6/99 BILL PAYING 9/99
CITY NEWSLETTER 6/99 EARTHQUAKE 10/99
KAOHSIUNG RADIO 7/99 IMMIGRATION LAWS 1/00


New!
Public Garbage Collection
Beginning in July, city residents must take trash directly to
garbage trucks during prescribed hours and at specific locations.
Trash may no longer be left on the street for pick up.
Persons disposing of trash improperly will be fined
 from NT$1200 - NT$4500 depending upon trash amount,
Check with your real estate agent, building association manager,
security guard or neighbor for a list of pick up points and times schedule.
And for those of you having trouble finding the truck, just listen for the sound of the "Ice Cream Trolley"...
Garbage trucks in Taiwan play the most delightful tunes will tending to trash!
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New!
City Newsletter
Kaohsiung City has launched "Ocean City. Kaohsiung" (a.k.a. "Metropolitan Kaohsiung"),
a Chinese-English newsletter that's published every other month.
The first issue was released April, 1999.
Copies are available free at international schools,
select pubs and restaurants, hotels and the international airport
You're invited to submit articles for publication on topics relevant to Kaohsiung.
Please contact Cynthia Tsen:
Telephone: 331-5016;  FAX: 330-7160 or e-mail
to submit your article ideas.
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New!
Kaohsiung Radio
94.3 FM and 1089 AM
"Making Waves", Sunday at 10:10~11:00PM
Broadcast in English
"Phillipinos in Kaohsiung", Sunday at 6PM
(Broadcast in Tagolog)
Click  Here for more information
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ON IMMIGRATION LAWS
By Mark Sokkappa, International Legal Counsel with Chen & Chern Attorneys
(reprint from "Ocean Capital")
The new immigration law (adopted in May, 1999) is a good first step on the path to reciprocal treatment for citizens of foreign countries.  Its implementation is expected some time in September of this year.  The new law gives official permanent residency to foreigners who have lived in Taiwan for a long time, without requiring them to have a sponsor, such as a parent, a spouse, or an employer.

In the past, foreigners could come and stay in Taiwan under a number of different kinds of visas, such as tourist or resident visas.  Those on extended stay, either for work or accompanying their Taiwanese family member, were allowed residency for up to 3 years.  This residency, however, was dependent upon the continued relationship with the Taiwan employer or family member.

Now, under the immigration law, foreigners and their spouses and children who have lived in the country consecutively for 7 years and who have stayed over 270 days each year are eligible for permanent residency.  They can stay without their employer or family member sponsorship support.  Other persons eligible for this permanent residency are"
1.  Taiwan citizens' foreign spouses and children who have lived consecutively in Taiwan for 5 years and have stayed over 270 days each year
2.   Taiwan citizens' foreign spouses and children who have lived consecutively in Taiwan for 15 years and have stayed over 183 days for an accumulative 8 year length of time out of the 15 year period

While not on par with other countries like the United States, which allows permanent residency to spouses after a 2 year conditional period and grants permanent residency to some employment based immigrants upon entering the US, this law is an important first step for Taiwan.  In the future, other changes should come, such as asylum procedures, equal treatment of children born to Taiwanese with foreign spouses, permanent residency upon entry to Taiwan for certain people, and perhaps citizenship for children born in Taiwan with at least one Taiwanese parent.

In the meantime, the law will be of most benefit to persons who have lived and worked in Taiwan for many years and now wish to retire here independent of any Taiwanese employer or family member, and those who have lived here over 5 years with their Taiwanese spouse but who have lost their spouse through death or divorce.  Previously, these people would have lost their residency status and could only stay on tourist visas for 2 to 6 months at a time.  They can now become permanent residents in Taiwan if they so desire.
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