In a bid to help foreign residents better adapt to Taiwan and experience a higher quality of life, the government yesterday launched an English-language Web site with information on daily living and an accompanying 24-hour hotline.
The "International Community Service Web site and Hotline" is part of the Executive Yuan's National Development Plan, which includes measures to make the nation more English-friendly.
"Facing immense pressure from global competition and increasingly frequent contacts with countries all over the world, the Taiwanese government is actively seeking to globalize the country and keep pace with global development," Vice Premier Wu Rong-i (
"With the rapid growth in the number of foreigners in Taiwan, the key to retaining foreign talent is the provision of information in English to help foreigners to feel at home while living in Taiwan," Wu said.
The Web site, at iff.npa.gov.tw, contains sections covering basic subjects, including visa and passport issues, health care, housing and safety. Users can also log on according to whether they are a tourist, foreign student or foreign dependent for more direct and quick access to related information. A map of Taiwan, weather forecasts, and online Chinese conversation classes are also available on the site.
The international community service hotline, 0800-024-111, is run by Chunghwa Telecom. It offers information in both Chinese and English year-round, and the government says it will ensure that all inquiries are addressed within three working days at the most.
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