Dear Mr. Tung Chee-hwa,

In Taiwan and Hong Kong , we have dense population, but the growing population over mainland China, it needs all Chinese intelligence to create prosperity. We convinced that the leadership in Beijing had already accepted the inevitability of political reform when they first experimented with their economy.

I read China's recent activities in legislation, in promoting the concept of the rule of law, in the successful direct elections of headmen in villages and its concentration on education as clear signs of gradualism in China's political reform.

On the other hand, Taiwan and Hong Kong experiences would help mainland China step up to the era of Chinese power.

A TV commercial produced by the ROC government to express its gratitude for foreign aid to Taiwan's earthquake relief was introduced to the press in Taipei on Wednesday (Oct. 20, 1999).

Beginning with words in black and white, which convey that Taiwan was hit by a quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale on Sept. 21, the commercial features a helpless boy who is assisted by other kids from different races after his construction of toy blocks is shaken, and collapses.

The commercial ends with a single sentence: "Taiwan Thanks the World."

At the news conference, Foreign Minister Jason Hu indicated that the 30-second, English-language commercial will be broadcast on Cable News Network (CNN) from Oct. 20, at prime time.

From that day through Oct. 24, the commercial, titled "Taiwan Thanks the World," will be aired world-wide 21 times, Hu said, noting this is the first time that the ROC government has put a commercial on CNN.

Expressing Taiwan's heartfelt gratitude for foreign assistance in its post-quake relief works was the sole goal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) when producing the commercial; no political images, signs, or language were permitted, Hu stressed.

The island has received much foreign-relief aid and many messages of concern and condolence since it was rattled by the 7.6 magnitude quake on Sept. 21, which killed over 2,300 people, and made thousands injured and numerous homeless, Hu said.

According to ministry tallies, more than 110 countries around the world have either sent rescue teams, donated relief goods or funds, or expressed concern via telephone or written messages in the wake of the killer tremor's ravages.

Many Taiwan people who have benefited from assistance have asked the MOFA to transmit their appreciation to the island's foreign friends, while President Lee Teng-hui has also requested that an official act extending publicly the ROC's gratitude for foreign aid, Hu noted.

Accordingly, the MOFA decided to voice all the thanks through the commercial, and publicize it one month after the "921 Earthquake," the minister said.

As overseas Chinese have also made generous donations to various post-quake relief and reconstruction projects, the commercial has a Chinese version, titled "Taiwan Thanks All Overseas Chinese for Their Assistance and Concern," which will be aired on a Los Angeles based satellite television station in the same five-day period, according to MOFA officials.

Meanwhile, French and Spanish versions of the commercial will also be made for broadcast in Latin America, Europe and Africa, the officials said.

The Red Cross Society of mainland China sent an additional US$500,000 to Taiwan yesterday (Oct. 19, 1999) for post quake relief, said a mainland official.

Zhang Huaijun, an official of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, said that mainland China's Red Cross has to date received cash and material aid worth more than 30 million renminbi, adding that a single charity performance in Fuzhou garnered more than 20 million renminbi.

The donated materials included tents, quilts and pharmaceuticals, Zhang said.

We give our appreciation to mainland China and Hong Kong rescuer for Taiwanese people. However, both sides of Chinese would achieve a peaceful means of unification at near future.