Provincial Governments

As introduced by the Yearbook of the Republic of China:

A provincial government is the highest local administrative organization prescribed by the Constitution of the Republic of China. Taiwan is the only one complete province under the effective control of the ROC. The Fuchien Provincial Government, headquartered in Kinmen County, has delegated most of its powers to county governments.

Taiwan Provincial Government

On July 1, 1999, the Taiwan Provincial Government was downsized into six sections, five offices, two committees, and 13 affiliated organizations with all restructuring completed by December 2000. After January 1, 2001, the organization, functions and administrative affairs of local-level governments had returned to normal, in accordance with regulations in the Act on Local Government Systems, which was passed by the Legislature on January 25, 1999. The incumbent Taiwan Governor is Lin Guang-hua. The second Taiwan Provincial Consultative Council has 19 members.

Fuchien Provincial Government

The ROC government administers only two counties in Fuchien Province: Kinmen County, which includes Kinmen, and Lienchiang County, which includes Matsu. In July 1956, the ROC military assumed full administrative responsibility for these two counties. Military administration lasted until August 7, 1992, when President Lee Teng-hui promulgated the Act for the Security and Guidance of Kinmen, Matsu, and the Pratas and Spratlys Areas. The return of local autonomy to Kinmen County and Lienchiang County is part of the ROC's recent constitutional reforms. The residents of these counties now have the same rights and freedoms as all people in Taiwan.

The Fuchien Provincial Government has a council. Fuchien Governor Yen Chung-cheng presides over the council when it convenes.

The Kinmen County Government is responsible for the administration of six townships. Although elections for township magistrates and village mayors as well as for representatives of the local and central governments have been held regularly since 1971, local self-government was fully implemented after the area was formally demilitarized in 1992. The first popular election for county magistrate took place in November 1993, followed by an election for county council in January 1994.

Lienchiang County contains four townships. Like Kinmen County, Lienchiang County held its first popular election for county magistrate in November 1993, followed by an election for county council in January 1994. This elected council took office on February 1, 1994, replacing the Provisional Lienchiang County council set up on November 7, 1992.

The incumbent magistrates of Kinmen and Lienchiang counties are Lee Chu-feng and Chen Hsueh-sheng, respectively.