中華民國福建省政府

The Story of the Fujian Provincial Government

Fujian Provincial Government in the Mainland China Era (1912~1949)

Fujian, also known as “Min”, was inhabited by the Minyue people in ancient times. During the Song Dynasty, six states (Fuzhou, Jianzhou, Quanzhou, Nanjianzhou, Tingzhou, Zhangzhou) were established in Fujian, followed by two “armies” (Shaowu Army and Xinghua Army), which gave Fujian six states and two armies, and these eight administrative regions were the origin of Fujian being called the “Eight Min”. The current “Fujian Provincial Emblem” is an image of eight flower petals to represent the “Eight Min”.

After the founding of the Republic of China in 1912, the governing seat of Fujian Province was established in Fuzhou. The provincial government was controlled by the Beiyang government or military forces, and the military and political chiefs held the real power, creating the post of “Commissioner” and establishing the Commission, followed by the post of “chief of civil affairs”, which was to denote the separation of military and civil affairs. In 1916, the post of governor was created, but the governor was either appointed by the military and political chiefs, or was subject to the military and political chiefs, and did not hold much power. However, the Office of the Chief Administrator of Fujian Province had set up the departments of administration, finance, education, industry, and the police, laying down the foundation for the future Fujian Provincial Government’s first-tier organs.

In 1926, the Nationalist Government took part in the Northern Expedition, and at the end of the same year, Fujian was conquered, ending the rule of the Beiyang Government. On January 3, 1927, the Nationalist Government established the Fujian Provincial Provisional Political Conference as the highest ruling body in Fujian, with Chiang Kai-shek as the chairman of the Conference. Since Chiang was unable to take up the position, Ho Ying-chin acted as chairman. The Provisional Political Conference adopted a committee member system, with members including Fang Sheng-tao, Huang Zhanyun, Ding Chaowu, He Yushu, Chen Jiliang, Jiang Dongqin, Dai Ren, Tan Shuqing, and Wang Yungong. This initiated the adoption of the committee member system for the future Fujian Provincial Government.

The Provisional Political Conference was only a transitional organ before the establishment of the Fujian Provincial Government. On April 27, 1927, the Central Political Council of the Nationalist Government appointed 12 people as committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government Administrative Affairs Committee, including Yang Shu-chuang, Chen Jiliang, Fang Shengtao, Tan Shuqing, Zhang Zhen, Zheng Baojing, Chen Peikun, Ding Chaowu, Huang Wan, Song Yanyuan, Lu Xingbang, and Yin Ruli. On July 3 of the same year, the Fujian Provincial Government was formally established and held an inauguration ceremony. All of the 12 committee members of the aforementioned Administrative Affairs Committee became committee members of the provincial government, and five of them, including Yang Shuzhuang, Fang Shengtao, Zheng Baojing, Chen Peikun, and Yin Ruli, were elected as standing committee members. The five standing committee members then elected Yang Shu-chuang as the Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government.

From the establishment to the end of the Fujian Provincial Government, a committee member system was adopted, but the manner of selecting the governor of the provincial government was different from the later years. In the early days, the Fujian Provincial Government’s administrative affairs committee had set up standing committee members, and the governor of the provincial government was elected by the standing committee members from among themselves. On July 8, 1927, the Nationalist Government enacted and promulgated the “Law on the Organization of Provincial Governments”, and the governor of the provincial government was elected by the committee members from among themselves. At that time, the provincial government was more collegial, and the governor was almost equal to the other committee members, except that governor was the first one listed among the committee members.

In October 1927, the Nationalist Government amended the “Law on the Organization of Provincial Governments” and changed the method of selecting the governor to the appointment from among the committee members of the provincial government by the Nationalist Government. Such a change has several implications for the appointment of provincial government governor. First, the governor appointed by the Nationalist Government often held nationwide reputation and had to be able to implement the Nationalist Government’s policies, which made the provincial government committee nominally collegial, but the governor often decided policies on his own. Moreover, after the Nationalist Government appointed the candidate, provincial origin was not a key point of consideration, which meant that the governor position was held by non-Fujian province residents more often than not. After the term of office of the first governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, Yang Shu-chuang, expired in 1932, the Nationalist Government appointed Chiang Kuang-nai to take over as the governor of the provincial government. He was a native of Guangdong Province. Then the position was taken up by Chen Yi (from Zhejiang), and Liu Chien-hsu (from Hunan) afterwards. For 16 years, none of the governors of the Fujian Provincial Government were from Fujian Province. It was not until 1948 that Li Liang-jung, a native of Tong’an, Fujian Province, was appointed as the governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, breaking the trend of non-natives serving as the governor.

The organization of the Fujian Provincial Government was based on the “Law on the Organization of Provincial Governments” enacted and amended by the Nationalist Government. At the beginning, there were only four departments, including civil affairs, finance, education, and construction, and a secretariat, which were the most basic departments and offices of the provincial government as stipulated in the “Law on the Organization of Provincial Governments”.

At that time, the offices of the departments were not co-located, and the heads of the departments were all appointed by members of the Fujian Provincial Government, resulting in delays in the provincial government meetings and delays in the provincial government administration, as well as the localism of the provincial government members who were also heads of the departments, which affected the efficiency of the provincial government administration.

In October 1934, the Fujian Provincial Government implemented a “joint office”, which combined the first-tier organs into one office, not only improving administrative efficiency, but also facilitating the coordination of policies among various departments.

In 1938, the Fujian Provincial Government was forced to move from Fuzhou to Yong’an due to the Second Sino-Japanese War, but the Fujian Provincial Government still expanded its establishment, and by the end of the war, it had set up first-tier organs for health, accounting, agricultural improvement, social work, statistics, cooperative business, and personnel.

When the Second Sino-Japanese War ended in 1945, the Fujian Provincial Government moved back to Fuzhou again. Soon after, the Republic of China was caught up again in the flames of the Chinese Civil War. To strengthen propaganda, the Fujian Provincial Government established the Information Department, and it became the last department set up by the Fujian Provincial Government during the Mainland China era. In August 1949, the People’s Liberation Army of the Communist Party of China (hereinafter referred to as the Communist Army) occupied Fuzhou, and the Fujian Provincial Government moved to Kinmen with the Nationalist army, entering another era.

On July 3, 1927, Yang Shu-chuang, the first governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, telegraphed to the Nationalist Government in Nanjing that the Fujian Provincial Government had been established on July 3. Source: Academia Historica

The Fujian Provincial Government in 1927 (the former Viceroy of Min-Zhe in the Qing Dynasty). Source: Viceroy of Min-Zhe - the past and present of the first official office of Fujian in the Qing Dynasty.

In 1932, Chiang Kuang-nai, the second Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, took the oath of office on December 16. Source: Academia Historica

The gate of the Fujian Provincial Government in 1931. Source: Fuzhou Architecture Heritage

Official letter from Chen Yi, Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, to the Ministry of the Interior on January 11, 1938. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

On September 9, 1941, Liu Chien-hsu, Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, completed the handover of the seal in Yong’an County. Source: Academia Historica

An overview of the organization of the Fujian Provincial Government during the war era (1937-1945). Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

Organizational chart of the Fujian Provincial Government in 1946. Source: Chronicle of the Fujian Provincial Government of the Republic of China

Chiang Kai-shek (left), Director-General of the Kuomintang, having a discussion with Chu Shao-liang (right), Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government in July 1949. Source: Academia Historica

Chiang Kai-shek (left), Director-General of the Kuomintang, and Chu Shao-liang (right), Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, tour Xiamen in July 1949. Source: Academia Historica

Relocation of the Fujian Provincial Government to Kinmen (1949~1956)

Between 1948 and 1949, the Chinese Civil War situation took a sharp turn for the worse. In January 1949, the Nationalist Government set up the Fuzhou Suijing Public Office, with Chu Shao-liang as the director, and appointed him to replace Li Liang-jung as the Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government.

In July and August of 1949, the Communist army pushed into Fuzhou, and the Fujian Provincial Government was relocated to Kinmen via Xiamen. On August 17 of the same year, Fuzhou was captured by the Communist army and Chu Shao-liang, the director and governor of the provincial government, was dismissed. On October 17, the Communist army captured Xiamen, which was only separated from Kinmen by a narrow strip of sea. On the night of October 24, the Communist army assembled in the Xiamen region began to cross the sea to attack Kinmen. After four days and three nights of bloody battles, nearly 10,000 Communist troops landed on the island and were wiped out by the Nationalist army. This battle was known as the “Battle of Kinmen” or “Battle of Guningtou”. The victory of the “Battle of Guningtou” which coincided with the development of the international situation - the outbreak of the Korean War, allowed the Fujian Provincial Government that had relocated to Kinmen to turn the crisis around.

After relocating to Kinmen, the office of the Fujian Provincial Government was set up in the former Qing Dynasty Kinmen Military Headquarters in Jincheng, and the governorship was left vacant for three months after Chu Shao-liang’s dismissal. On November 23, 1949, the 98th meeting of the Executive Yuan decided to appoint Hu Lien (then the Kinmen Defense Commander), Yuan Guoqin, Chen Gongbei, Liang Longguang, Huang Chin-tao, Zeng Shaolu, Shi Lei, Li Shijia, Chen Huazhou, Chen Shugui, Lin Junyang, and Chen Lianfen as committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government, and appointed Hu Lien as the Governor and Zeng Shaolu as the Secretary-General to implement the Fujian Provincial Government. On February 4, 1953, as some committee members were unable to take up their post, Shen Xiangkui, Zhang Chao, Fan Songyao, Tai Chung-yu, Lin Xiuluan, Zhou Yikui, Chen Gongbei, Cai Zhesheng, Hong Maozhong, and Liu Guanghan were appointed as committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government, with Zhang Chao also as the Secretary-General.

Since Hu Lien, the governor of the provincial government, was the commander of the Kinmen Defense Command, the Fujian Provincial Government was mainly concerned with adapting to wartime needs and strived for close coordination between administration and military affairs. In terms of organizational structure, there were four departments, including secretariat, economic affairs, administrative affairs, and military affairs, which showed the integration of military and government.

In addition, the Fujian Provincial Government still had the task of supervising the implementation of administrative affairs by the county governments under their actual jurisdiction, including Kinmen and Putian, Lienchiang, Changle, and Luoyuan. In view of the distance between Lienchiang and Kinmen, under the policy of integrated military and government, the Fujian Provincial Government abolished the civil affairs offices in each district and established the Matsu Administrative Office. Yao Yan (a native of Hunan) was appointed as the chief administrator by Hu Lien, the Governor of Fujian Provincial Government, and a two-story house in Niujiao Village, Nangan, was borrowed as the site of office. On August 15, 1953, the Matsu Administrative Office was abolished and reorganized as the Northeast Min Administrative Office, with Chen Gongbei, a committee member of the provincial government, serving as the head of the administrative office. The Office had jurisdiction over three counties including Lienchiang, Changle, and Luoyuan, and only had three departments including secretariat, administrative and economic affairs, and military affairs.

As for the Matsu Administrative Office, before and after the Fujian Provincial Government moved to Kinmen, the Kinmen Administrative Office was also set up. Hu Lien, the Governor of Fujian Provincial Government, appointed Shen Min as the first chief administrator, and then followed by Li Delian. In 1953, the Kinmen Administrative Office was abolished alongside the Matsu Administrative Office, but unlike Matsu, there was no administrative office in Kinmen. Instead, the Kinmen County Government was reinstated and placed directly under the jurisdiction of Fujian Provincial Government, with Zhang Chao, the Secretary-General of the Provincial Government as the county magistrate.

In April 1954, Hu Lien came to Taiwan to take up the post of commander of the First Army Command, while Liu Yuzhang took over as the commander of the Kinmen Defense Command. Due to the heavy workload of the corps and the distance between Kinmen and Taiwan, Hu Lien also submitted his resignation for the post as Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, but it was not approved by President Chiang Kai-shek. At the time of the restructuring of the Fujian Provincial Government, the central government decided to implement the policy of “separation of the military and civil administration” and “Min people ruling Min” and discussed the replacement candidates.

On January 20, 1955, the Fujian Provincial Government was officially reorganized, and the President was requested by the Executive Yuan Premier to appoint Tai Chung-yu, Liu Yuzhang, Fan Songyao, Shen Xiangkui, Lin Xiuluan, He Yiwu, Cai Zhesheng, Zhuo Gaoxuan, Lin Zuomei, Zhang Fubin, and Chen Gongbei as committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government, and to assign Tai Chung-yu as the Governor. Tai Chung-yu originally intended to appoint Gong Luduan to the post of Secretary-General, but the Presidential Office recommended Zhuo Gaoxuan to serve concurrently because Gong could not be transferred.

To comply with the principle of “separation of the military and civil administration”, the former military affairs office of the Fujian Provincial Government was abolished, leaving only three offices: secretariat, economic affairs, administrative affairs. The central government promulgated a staff establishment of 70 people, but the actual number of staff was around 50.

The biggest change to the Fujian Provincial Government was in the appointment of personnel. Before the restructuring of the provincial government, the staff was mainly made up of local party and military cadres, most of whom had military status, and personnel changes and auditing operations were relatively simple. After the implementation of the separation of the military and civil administration, in order to strengthen personnel management, the Fujian Provincial Government established a centralized personnel management system, which required that all personnel appointments, dismissals, and examinations be conducted in accordance with the central government's decrees.

In the areas under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Provincial Government, the Northeast Min Administrative Office established in Matsu was abolished in June 1955 and changed to the Office of the Administrative Inspector of the First District of Fujian Province in July. The three counties of Lienchiang, Changle, and Luoyuan were still under its jurisdiction. In Kinmen, the establishment of the county government was expanded by setting up a deputy county magistrate to assist the county magistrate in carrying out the duties, with a total staff establishment of 78 personnel.

The Fujian Provincial Government did not implement the “separation of the military and civil administration” for a long time. In 1956, the central government switched to military administration in the Kinmen and Matsu regions, and the Fujian Provincial Government, which had only been under “separation of the military and civil administration” for a few years, moved to Taiwan to work under the same policy.

In November 1949, the Executive Yuan Council appointed Hu Lien as the Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

The Battle of Guningtou - Lincuo Battle Monument. Source: Chronicle of the Fujian Provincial Government of the Republic of China

The office site of the Fujian Provincial Government in Kinmen (Xinzhuang, Wujiang, Kinmen) in 1949. Source: Chronicle of the Fujian Provincial Government of the Republic of China

In 1953, the Executive Yuan abolished the Kinmen Administrative Office and reinstated the Kinmen County Government, which was directly under the Fujian Provincial Government, and reorganized the Matsu Administrative Office into the Northeast Min Administrative Office, with provincial government committee member Chen Gongbei as the head of the administrative office and the county magistrate of Lienchiang County. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

On February 7, 1950, the Women’s League Labor Corps was deployed to Kinmen. Source: Kinmen Culture Park Administration Office (KMCPAO)

Chiang Ching-kuo (left) with Hu Lien (right) during his visit to Kinmen. Source: Academia Historica

A group photo of all committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government inaugurated in 1953. Source: Fujian Provincial Government, <Min Yuan Magazine>, No. 22

In December 1953, President Chiang Kai-shek instructed that Hu Lien’s resignation as governor of the Fujian Provincial Government be approved. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

In December 1954, President Chiang Kai-shek instructed the appointment of Tai Chung-yu as governor of the Fujian Provincial Government. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

In January 1955, Hu Lien resigned as Governor of Fujian Provincial Government and was replaced by Tai Chung-yu as Governor of Fujian Provincial Government. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

Governor Hu Lien founded An Lan Primary School in Kinmen. Source: Kinmen Culture Park Administration Office (KMCPAO)

Fujian Provincial Government in the Military Administration Era (1956~1992)

On May 10, 1948, the Nationalist Government enacted and promulgated the “Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion”, which empowered the president to set up mobilization and anti-rebellion agencies, determine major policies related to mobilization and repression, handle field administration, and adjust the central government’s administrative agencies, personnel agencies, and organizations during this period. On June 23, 1956, the Executive Yuan promulgated the “Experimental Measures for Military Administration in Kinmen and Matsu Regions”, and in July of the same year, the “Military Administrative Committee” was established in Kinmen and Matsu respectively, becoming the highest administrative organ in these regions.

The basic spirit of military administration was to unify the leadership of the military and the government, combining the characteristics of the war zone, the unity of the military and political regions, the unification of the military and political institutions, and the unified leadership of a single military and political chief to carry out the four main tasks of “management, education, maintenance, and security”. In accordance with Article 8 of the “Experimental Measures for Military Administration in Kinmen and Matsu Regions”, the Fujian Provincial Government was responsible for researching the recovery plans of the various regions of the province during the period of military administration, and did not need to handle military administrative affairs. Therefore, the administrative authority of the Kinmen and Matsu regions under the Fujian Provincial Government was transferred to the local administrative affairs committees respectively.

On July 16, 1956, the Fujian Provincial Government handed over the transferred personnel, records, property, and uncompleted projects to the administrative affairs committees of Kinmen and Matsu. In Matsu, the Office of the Administrative Inspector of the First District of Fujian Province, which was under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Provincial Government, was also transferred over to the Matsu Administrative Affairs Committee on July 16 and then abolished. The Office of the Administrative Inspector of the First District of Fujian Province formerly held jurisdiction over three counties, including Lienchiang, Changle, and Luoyuan. Due to the abolition of the office, Changle and Luoyuan counties were placed under the jurisdiction of the Lienchiang County Government.

In accordance with Article 8 of the “Experimental Measures for Military Administration in Kinmen and Matsu Regions”, the Fujian Provincial Government had to be stationed in Taiwan during this period. Therefore, the Fujian Provincial Government began the process of relocation to Taiwan in July 1956 after completing the transfer process.

In terms of staffing, the Fujian Provincial Government had an original establishment of 70 staff members, 52 held actual positions, while 15 were counsellors. Among them, all 15 counsellors were dismissed, 28 personnel were placed by the administrative affairs committee of the Kinmen Defense Command, and the remaining 24 personnel were relocated to Taiwan with the Fujian Provincial Government. On July 20, 1956, the 24 remaining staff members were taken together on a special flight to Taiwan. The family dormitory at No. 258-18, Qizhang Road, Xindian Township, Taipei County (now Xindian District, New Taipei City) was first used as temporary office site. Subsequently, additional office buildings were built on the vacant land of the family dormitory premises, while a Data Office was built with funding from the Sino-American Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction for its use.

In order to clarify the scope of operation, the Fujian Provincial Government drew up a “Provisional Staffing Chart of the Fujian Provincial Government”, which was approved and filed for record by the Executive Yuan. According to the provisional staffing chart, the Fujian Provincial Government had 11 committee members to set up the Fujian Provincial Government Committee. A governor was appointed by the Executive Yuan from among the committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government, and a secretary-general was appointed to handle government affairs under the governor’s orders. The governorship of the Fujian Provincial Government after the relocation to Taiwan was still held by Tai Chung-yu, who served as governor for 31 years until his death in 1986, when Wu Chin-tzan (a native of Kinmen County) took over the post of governor. This makes Tai Chung-yu the longest-serving governor of the Fujian Provincial Government.

After relocating to Taiwan, the Fujian Provincial Government abolished the original three offices of secretariat, economic affairs, administrative affairs due to operational restructuring, and instead established three divisions. First Division was in charge of the collection and review of data related to the various projects for the recovery of Fujian Province. Second Division was in charge of the investigation of talent reserves in Fujian Province, the advancement of the psychological operation efforts in the Communist-occupied areas of Fujian Province, the liaison of overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese in Fujian Province, and other matters related to Fujian Province that did not fall under the administration of the Kinmen-Matsu Military Administration. Third Division was in charge of clerical affairs, general affairs, personnel, and accounting affairs that did not fall under the other divisions.

In terms of staffing, the 24 members of the relocated team included 2 secretaries, 3 directors, 5 commissioners, 2 executive officers, 9 officers, and 3 clerks. By the mid-1961s, the actual number of staff members was reduced to less than 20 when vacancies were not filled.

The main task of the Fujian Provincial Government during the military administration period was to “study the plans for the restoration of various regions in the province”. In order to promote the research and design work, the Fujian Provincial Government set up three research groups, including civil affairs, finance, and culture and education, which focused on “establishing systems and stabilizing society”, “developing resources and cultivating civil power”, and “eliminating toxic elements and restoring enlightenment” respectively. All committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government participated in each group according to their expertise, and each group had a convener and a secretary, and met once a week.

In the process of research and design, it was necessary to collect a large amount of information about Fujian Province from mainland China. The Fujian Provincial Government published monographs such as “Study on Communists in Fujian” and “Compendium of Information on Communists in Fujian” according to the year, to provide reference for the development of restoration plans for the recovered areas in Fujian Province, and to be used for psychological warfare broadcasting. After the Fujian Provincial Government relocated to Taiwan, the governor, secretary-general, and committee members of the Fujian Provincial Government would launch psychological warfare efforts against Fujian Province in China and overseas Fujianese via radio broadcasts on Central Broadcasting System Radio and Guanghua Radio from time to time, once or twice a month. From the end of July 1961, the Fujian Provincial Government cooperated with the Minnan-language radio station attached to Voice of Free China broadcasting station under the Central Broadcasting System, to set up a regular radio program called “Fujian Provincial Government Time”. The broadcasting script was provided by the Fujian Provincial Government and the broadcast took place once every Sunday for 10 minutes. In addition, another important task of the Fujian Provincial Government in Taiwan was to serve the overseas Fujianese community in Taiwan, including the overseas Chinese communities living abroad and the townsmen associations of Fujian Province in Taiwan.

In June 1956, the Executive Yuan replied to President Chiang Kai-shek’s inquiry about the relocation of the Fujian Provincial Government to Taiwan. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

Implementation of the “Experimental Measures for Military Administration in Kinmen and Matsu Regions” promulgated in June 1956. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

In July 1956, the Fujian Provincial Government moved its offices to Taiwan and the accompanying staff list. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

The evacuation of Kinmen residents to Taiwan during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1958. Source: “Portrait of an Island”, Cultural Affairs Bureau of Kinmen County

In November 1982, Governor Tai Chung-yu of Fujian Provincial Government advised President Chiang Ching-kuo to simplify the organizational structure of Fujian Provincial Government. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

In April 1975, the organization rules of the Civil Self-Defense Forces of Kinmen County and Lienchiang County during the period of military administration. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

In 1986, Wu Chin-tzan (center, standing), Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, poses for a group photo with returning overseas Chinese. Source: Fujian Provincial Government, <Min Yuan Magazine>, No. 1

On New Year’s Day 1987, Wu Chin-tzan (6rd from right), Governor of Fujian Provincial Government, participated in the opening ceremony of Fujian Provincial Government Building (now Xindian District, New Taipei City). Source: Fujian Provincial Government, <Min Yuan Magazine>, No. 3

Lobby of the Fujian Provincial Government Building (now Xindian District, New Taipei City) in 1987. Source: Fujian Provincial Government, “Min Yuan Magazine”, No. 1

Wu Chin-tzan, Governor of Fujian Provincial Government, broadcasting to mainland China. Source: Fujian Provincial Government, “Min Yuan Magazine”, No. 1

On August 7, 1987, Wu Chin-tzan, Governor of Fujian Provincial Government, visited the Taiwan Provincial Government (Wu Chin-tzan, Governor of Fujian Provincial Government, is 3rd from the left, and Chiu Chuang-huan, Governor of Taiwan Province, is 4th from the left). Source: Fujian Provincial Government, <Min Yuan Magazine>, No. 4

On Wednesday, January 20, 1988, President Lee Teng-hui met with Governor Wu Chin-tzan of the Fujian Provincial Government and others. Source: Academia Historica

In 1988, the Fujian Provincial Government awarded scholarships to outstanding students from Fujian. Source: Fujian Provincial Government, <Min Yuan Magazine>, No. 13

In 1991, the Fujian Provincial Government had a group photo of the Spring Festival gathering of the Fujian Townsmen’s Association in Taiwan. Source: Fujian Provincial Government, <Min Yuan Magazine>, No. 25

The Fujian Provincial Government in Xindian District, New Taipei City (the service office of the Kinmen County Government in Taiwan) from 1956 to 1996. Source: Chronicle of the Fujian Provincial Government of the Republic of China

April 1991, the Ministry of National Defense reported to the Executive Yuan on the continuation of martial law in the Kinmen-Matsu region. Source: Executive Yuan

Fujian Provincial Government during the Implementation of Local Self Governance in Kinmen-Matsu Region (1992-2018)

On July 15, 1987, President Chiang Ching-kuo declared the lifting of the 38-year-long martial law in Taiwan, but the Kinmen and Matsu regions were excluded and continued to be governed under military administration. With the rise of democratic consciousness, calls for the “return of political power to the people” in the Kinmen and Matsu regions swelled, and a series of petitions, demonstrations, and protests for the “abolition of military administration” were launched.

On May 1, 1991, President Lee Teng-hui announced the end of the “Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion”, however, the military administration in the Kinmen-Matsu region did not end with the cessation of the period of mobilization, and it was declared that martial law would continue. On May 7 of the same year, the “Kinmen-Matsu Hometown Alliance”, a group of activists from Kinmen and Matsu, began an 11-day sit-in protest against the second martial law era in the Kinmen-Matsu region at the Chun-hsian Building of the Legislative Yuan.

After five years of struggle since 1987, the central government finally announced the termination of the military administration in the Kinmen-Matsu region on November 7, 1992. After the termination of the military administration in the Kinmen-Matsu region, the Fujian Provincial Government immediately planned to move back to Kinmen in accordance with the “Program for the Implementation of Local Self-Governance in Lienchiang County, Kinmen County, Fujian Province” promulgated by the Executive Yuan. Originally, the office of the Fujian Provincial Government in Kinmen was intended to be the same site as the former County Government office in Xinzhuang, Wujiang. However, the Ministry of the Interior determined that it would take several years to refurbish the Xinzhuang site, which is a Level III monument, and suggested that the Fujian Provincial Government find a new location. The Fujian Provincial Government, with the assistance of the Kinmen County Government, redesigned the Chung Cheng Library as its new office building (the current location of the Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center, Executive Yuan, No. 34, Minquan Road, Jincheng Township, Kinmen County). On January 15, 1996, after almost 40 years, the Fujian Provincial Government officially moved back to Kinmen.

In response to the termination of military administration in Kinmen and Matsu, on November 5, 1992, the Ministry of the Interior issued the “Provisional Organizational Regulations of the Fujian Provincial Government”, which provided for the establishment of three units within the Fujian Provincial Government to carry out four major tasks: supervising the administrative affairs of Fujian Province; referral of central and local affairs; coordinating county self-governance in Fujian Province; and collecting and reviewing project data and designing plans for the mainland China areas of Fujian Province.

In terms of staffing, the Fujian Provincial Government had 7 to 11 committee members, who were appointed by the President through a resolution of the Executive Yuan; and a governor, who was appointed by the President through a resolution of the Executive Yuan. Wu Chin-tzan was reappointed as governor after the return of the Fujian Provincial Government to Kinmen. Wu Chin-tzan, the first non-military governor of the Fujian Provincial Government, succeeded Tai Chung-yu as governor during the latter part of the military administration. On February 10, 1998, Yen Chung-cheng over the governorship of the Fujian Provincial Government after Wu Chin-tzan. After Yen took office, he asked Wang Su-Chao, an art designer who is a native of Fujian Province, to design the “Fujian Provincial Emblem” as a symbol of the spirit of the province.

On May 28, 1992, the second amendment to the Constitution of the Republic of China took place. Article 17 stipulates that the local government system of provinces and counties shall be established by law, and that provinces shall have a provincial government with a governor who shall be elected by the people of the province. On July 29, 1994, the “Provincial and County Self-Governing Law” was enacted and promulgated, but since the regions under the jurisdiction of the Fujian Provincial Government were not complete, the election of the governor could not be not held as in the case of the Taiwan Provincial Government. Instead, on June 19, 1996, the Executive Yuan promulgated the “Regulations for the Organization of the Fujian Provincial Government” in accordance with Article 64 of the “Provincial and County Self-Governing Law”. The “Provisional Organizational Regulations of the Fujian Provincial Government” established by the Ministry of Interior was abolished on the same day.

On July 21, 1997, the Constitution of the Republic of China was amended for the fourth time. Article 9 of the Constitution provides that “the provinces shall supervise county self-governance by order of the Executive Yuan”, and that the election of the Taiwan Provincial Council and the Governor of Taiwan Province shall end. The Local Government Act was enacted and promulgated on January 25, 1999, and the “Provincial and County Self-Governing Law” was abolished on April 14 of the same year. On August 25, 1999, the Executive Yuan promulgated the “Regulations for the Organization of the Fujian Provincial Government” in accordance with Article 13 of the “Local Government Act”, and the original “Regulations for the Organization of the Fujian Provincial Government” previously promulgated on June 19, 1996, was abolished on the same day.

According to the “Regulations for the Organization of the Fujian Provincial Government” dated August 25, 1999, the Fujian Provincial Government was positioned as an “agency dispatched by the Executive Yuan” and was under the direction and supervision of the Executive Yuan to handle matters of county self-governance, provincial government administration, and other matters authorized by law or assigned by the Executive Yuan. However, unlike the impact of the streamlining of provincial elections on the Taiwan Provincial Government, the streamlining of Fujian Provincial Government did not have a significant impact on the organization and establishment of the Fujian Provincial Government as of 2009. The governor and secretary-general were elected in much the same way as before, and the provincial government still has a clear establishment of three divisions and three offices, including personnel, accounting, and civil service ethics. After several amendments, the staff establishment maintained at a number of 45 personnel.

On March 24, 2009, the Executive Yuan amended and published the “Regulations for the Organization of the Fujian Provincial Government”, changing the provincial government’s committee members to non-salaried appointments, and where the post of governor may be held concurrently by other designated officers, as well as eliminating the requirement that the provincial government may establish various committees. After that, the staff establishment of Fujian Provincial Government began to be gradually reduced until the end of the provincial government’s operation, where only 22 personnel remained.

Although the Fujian Provincial Government lost its function as an autonomous body, it also transformed into a bridge between the central government and the county governments of Kinmen and Lienchiang, especially since the governorship of the Fujian Provincial Government had been held by the secretary-general of the Executive Yuan or the ministers without portfolio of the Executive Yuan since Yen Chung-cheng. The Fujian Provincial Government can strengthen smooth communication channels and facilitate the promotion of major policies or construction projects.

After the relocation of the Taiwan (R.O.C.) government to Taiwan, the Fujian Provincial Government was incomplete in its jurisdiction, and its staff establishment and functions were far inferior to those of the Taiwan Provincial Government. In the late 2001s, the Fujian Provincial Government began to “downsize” its organization, and even though its status as an agency could not be abolished due to constitutional provisions, its operations and functions had already shrunk significantly.

In June 2018, Executive Yuan Premier Lai Ching-te announced that the Fujian Provincial Government would be “decommissioned” and the budget of the provincial government would be zeroed out in 2019. Prior to that, the Executive Yuan announced the “Directions for the Establishment of the Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center, Executive Yuan” in 2016 and set up the Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center on January 17, 2017 at the original site of Fujian Provincial Government. The center is run by the Fujian Provincial Government to assist in the promotion of regional administration in the Kinmen-Matsu region and to take over the operations of the provincial government after its decommissioning.

On December 31, 2018, the Fujian Provincial Government formally ended its operations, and from January 1, 2019, the former provincial government’s part-time operation of the Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center was transferred over to the Executive Yuan. In February 2019, the Fujian Provincial Government’s seal, records, property and information systems were also formally handed over to the Executive Yuan.

Fujian Provincial Government Seal (the original seal has been handed over to the Executive Yuan). Source: Executive Yuan

Seal of the Governor of Fujian Provincial Government (the original seal has been handed over to the Executive Yuan). Source: Executive Yuan

In September 1991, the Executive Yuan approved the “Program for the Implementation of Local Self-Governance in Lienchiang County, Kinmen County, Fujian Province”. Source: Executive Yuan

November 1992, the Fujian Provincial Government issued the first issue of the “Fujian Provincial Government Chronicle”. Source: National Central Library

In October 1992, the Ministry of National Defense officially reported that the Kinmen-Matsu Military Administration would be terminated on November 7, 1992. Source: Executive Yuan

In November 1992, the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office approved the abolition of the Experimental Measures for Military Administration in Kinmen and Matsu Regions. Source: Executive Yuan

In October 1991, the Executive Yuan reviewed the “Outline for the Program for the Implementation of Local Self-Governance in Lienchiang County, Kinmen County, Fujian Province” as amended and approved by the Ministry of the Interior. Source: Executive Yuan

On November 5, 1992, the Executive Yuan notified the Secretary-General of the Presidential Office that the Experimental Measures for Military Administration in Kinmen and Matsu Regions would be abolished on November 7. Source: Executive Yuan

In December 1992, the Fujian Provincial Government sent issued an official notice to all agencies informing them that local self-governance had been implemented in Kinmen and Lienchiang counties on November 7. Source: Executive Yuan

The “Rules and Regulations for the Organization of the Provisional County Council of Lienchiang County, Kinmen County, Fujian Province” established by the Fujian Provincial Government in November 1993. Source: Executive Yuan

On June 19, 1996, the Executive Yuan promulgated the “Regulations for the Organization of the Fujian Provincial Government”. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

In 1996, Executive Yuan Premier Lien Chan (center is Premier Lien Chan; 5th from right is Governor Wu Chin-tzan) attended the relocation ceremony of the Fujian Provincial Government to Kinmen County. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

On February 5, 1998, a presidential decree appointed Yen Chung-cheng as the Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government. Source: National Archives Administration, National Development Council

On May 21, 1998, President Lee Teng-hui met with Yen Chung-cheng, the Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government. Source: “Chronicles of the Fujian Provincial Government” Volume 1

On January 17, 2000, President Chen Shui-bian undertook an inspection of the Fujian Provincial Government. Source: Academia Historica

On May 24, 2000, President Chen Shui-bian met with Yen Chung-cheng, the Governor of the Fujian Provincial Government. Source: Academia Historica

In 2005, the Fujian Provincial Government announced the election of county magistrates and county councilors. Source: “Chronicles of the Fujian Provincial Government”, Volume 8

From January 2019, the former operations of the Fujian Provincial Government will be taken over by the Executive Yuan. Source: Executive Yuan

Executive Yuan Premier Lin Chuan (5th from left) and Fujian Provincial Government Governor Chang Ching-sen (6th from left) attend the inauguration ceremony of the “Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center, Executive Yuan” on Jan. 17, 2017. Source: Executive Yuan

The handing over of the Fujian Provincial Government’s seal, records, property and information systems in February 2019. Source: Executive Yuan

Fujian Provincial Government in Kinmen (now the Kinmen-Matsu Joint Services Center, Executive Yuan). Source: Chronicle of the Fujian Provincial Government of the Republic of China

The arch gateway of the Fujian Provincial Government to Kinmen. Source: Chronicle of the Fujian Provincial Government of the Republic of China