Page 179 - 2018 OUTLINE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR REPUBLIC OF CHINA

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National Immigration

countries were invited to discuss topics on human trafficking, resulting in an expansion of the exchange
mechanisms among countries, the reinforcement of the cooperation channels between central and

local governments as well as public and private sectors, and a comprehensive improvement in policies
regarding human trafficking prevention in Taiwan.

6. 2018 policy measures

The NIA formulated "The Draft Amendment of the Human Trafficking Prevention Act". To achieve the

objective of advancing the rights and interests of victims of human trafficking, the amendment will enhance
the mechanism for identifying human trafficking victims by including the participation of social workers
in the process, and increasing shelters for the victims' protective placement. It intends to render the Act
to be more closely adhered to the international standards and improve human rights protection for the
victims. The draft includes the amendment of a number of Articles under the current Act to better suit the

provisions to practical circumstances and to better equip the legal system in general.

V. Cross-strait Interactions and Exchanges

1. Promoting e-Applications

The NIA promoted the "Online applications for short term permits for people from Mainland
China, Hong Kong and Macau Area entering Taiwan", and it entered full operation receiving online
applications from professional and business visits from Mainland China. A total number of 130,101
applications of professional exchange and 82,499 applications of business professional exchange were
processed in 2017.

2. Cross-Strait Exchange and Mainland Chinese Independent Tours

In 2017, a total of 1,980,501 Mainland Chinese tourists have entered Taiwan; 70,942 social exchange
entries, 116,242 professional exchange entries, 80,663 business exchange entries, and 22,136 medical
exchange entries (including health and beauty). See Table 11-2 for details.

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