Page 26 - 2022 OUTLINE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR REPUBLIC OF CHINA

townships/cities in Kinmen County were elected, and eleventh-term mayors of townships/cities were elect-
ed in Lienchiang County.

9. Elections of Township/City Councilors and Village Chiefs

The first-term township/city representatives and village chiefs were chosen directly by the residents of
the special municipalities, counties/cities, and townships/cities in February 1946. Twenty-one elections for
township/city representatives, and village chiefs had been held as of November 2018, while in Fuchien Prov-
ince, the twelfth-term for township/city representatives and village chiefs in Kinmen County occurred, and

the eleventh-term of township/city representatives and village chiefs were elected in Lienchiang County.

10. Elections of Chiefs and Councilors of Indigenous Districts in Municipalities

In 2014, an autonomous system was adopted for indigenous districts in municipalities. The sec-
ond-term chief and councilors of indigenous districts in municipalities were chosen directly by the resi-
dents of the indigenous districts in municipalities on November 29, 2018.

V. Promotion and Development of Religious Affairs

Article 13 of the Constitution reads: "The people shall have freedom of religious belief." Such free-
dom ensures that people shall have the freedom to believe in any religion and to participate in any reli-
gious activities. The State shall neither forbid nor endorse any particular religion, and shall never extend

any privileges or disadvantages to people on the basis of their particular religious beliefs. The guarantee
of freedom of religious belief shall include freedom of personal religious belief, freedom of religious prac-
tices, and freedom of religious association.

In order to protect the freedom of religious beliefs and to ensure the sound development of religious

groups, besides continuing to assist the legalization of temples, the MOI will actively promote the right of
religious communities to autonomy in structuring their religious affairs. Meanwhile, in order to protect the
property rights of religious groups, the MOI is drafting and promoting the legislative work of the Provi-
sional Act Governing Religious Groups Registering Real Estate in the Name of a Natural Person. Religious

groups may not only hold religious activities in accordance with their religious rites, but also make use of
their funds and resources to facilitate or sponsor charities and social education in the spirit of "giving back
to society," contributing to their local communities, promoting social stability and prosperity, and improv-
ing the social atmosphere. The number of meritorious religious groups and their donations from 2017-

2021 are shown in Table 2-7.

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