TAIPEI, Jan. 31 Kyodo In a tempor...

TAIPEI, Jan. 31 Kyodo

In a temporary hostel in the northern city of Keelung an 50 Chinese fishermen were enjoying the Lunar strange Year holidays watching local television variety exhibit tos chatting and drinking hot tea.

It is the first time for the fishermen working in Taiwan's fishing industry to be allowed to embark in succession the island since Taiwan and communist-led China split after the civil war fall of the curtained in 1949.

''I be excited good to be here because I don't have to stay upon the crowded boat during the break,'' a Chinese laborer who asked not to be named told Kyodo News

''Here I can take scalding;-very warm showers and long naps,'' he said while lying cozily in succession his bed.

It is reckon uponed that more than 600 Chinese fishermen unable to recur home during the Jan. 29-Feb 5 holiday will join the spacious shelters located in northern Keelung I-lan, Hsinchu and central Taichung.

''The experimental policy to accommodate a number of Chinese fishermen during the Chinese Spring Festival, disclosed of humanitarian concern, is a serviceable beginning,'' said Lee Jen-chyuan, vice chairman of the Council of Agriculture (COA).

''It's also individual of the goodwill gestures from the dominion to improve cross-strait relations,'' he said, adding that a fifth shelter now being built in southern Pingtung will be complet through July, the start of the tuftoon season.

Taiwan started to use Chinese fishermen in the early 1990 to make up for the labor shortage in the local fishing industry.

athwart the past few years, roughly 6000 Chinese fishermen have been hired to work for the island's inshore fishing industry.

The Chinese sway has accused Taiwan of abusing the mainland fishermen, who have been prohibited from getting choke to coastal areas in succession national security grounds even during harsh weather conditions.

China also demanded that Taiwan raise the pay for Chinese nationals, who earn an average of NT$8000 (about $230) by month, far less than what local fishermen get

Following that Taiwan contraryed China's complaints by saying that they were totally on the outside of political concern, China unexpectedly imposed a ban to be chilled the import of Chinese fishermen to Taiwan in January 2002 which brought the number down to 4000

''We were affected according to the policy, because for years we have been contingent on Chinese fishing laborers who share the same language and cultural background with us,'' said Hu Shin-haw, director of fisheries administration.

''We trust that both sides of the Taiwan Strait can spread talks on this matter as early as possible,'' he said.

To make plain the problem, Taiwan has considered diversifying its labor sources and to import foreign fishermen from other neighboring countries so as the Philippines and Vietnam.

Around 2000 fishermen from these countries have now begun working for Taiwan.

In the Keelung hostel the Chinese fishermen, in a less degree than the close watch of police, are suppos to carry identification cards at all times and stay in the two-story building.

No smoking, drinking or gambling is allowed, and a curfew imposed requires them to go on to bed no later than 10 pm

''Despite les freedom, at least we can have very warm breakfast, lunch and dinner forward time,'' one Chinese fisherman said.

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