ROC President Ma Ying-jeou May 21 unveiled the Mackay Program, an initiative providing foreign residents who have made contributions to Taiwan discounted prices for public transportation, cultural and recreational facilities.
“The purpose of the program is to pay tribute to foreign residents who have lived in Taiwan for a long period and dedicated their lives to helping the needy,” Ma said during a meeting with medical staff at Mackay Memorial Hospital in Taipei City.
According to Ma, foreigners aged 65 and above who have lived in Taiwan for at least 20 years and hold permanent residency are eligible to apply for the program, which is supervised by the Ministry of the Interior.
Foreign residents who have made special contributions in fields such as culture, education, medical care and religion are welcome to file applications, the MOI said, adding that currently about 250 candidates are qualified to apply.
Set to take effect June 1, the program will offer participants 50-percent discounts on air, train, bus and metropolitan rapid transit fares, the MOI said. It also covers some 150 public cultural and recreational facilities, including the National Palace Museum, Alishan National Scenic Area and local swimming pools, where free entrance or a 50- percent discount on admission will be provided.
According to the MOI, the program is named after Canadian George Leslie Mackay, who worked in Taiwan as a medical missionary from 1872 until his death in 1901, in commemoration of his lifelong efforts to serve the disadvantaged.
Mackay, who founded northern Taiwan’s first Western hospital in Danshui in 1880, ministered to the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of his patients. Mackay Memorial Hospital was established in 1912 in memory of his unrelenting dedication.
