Information on the Yang Ming Line Company [PHL26029.E]

For information on this subject, please consult the attached documents, including the documents downloaded from the Yang Ming Line Company website, the 13 February 1997 letter from the Shipping Federation of Canada and the 1996 Moody's International Data Report on the Yang Ming Marine Corp.

According to a report in the 23 May 1996 issue of The China Post, the Yang Ming Marine Corp. was privatized in February 1996, although the (government still holds a high percentage of shares in the company.(
According to a 13 October 1994 report in

Far Eastern Economic Review

The pending conversion of Yang Ming from a government-owned to a private corporation is expected to further boost the company's competitiveness. The government shareholding is being steadily reduced through repeated public offerings of stock, and the privatisation process is expected to be completed before the end of 1995. As a private firm, Yang Ming would be able to react more quickly to market conditions in planning new investments.

The following information was provided during a 3 February 1997 telephone interview with the vice-president of the Taiwan Human Rights Association in Toronto. The source has been involved with the Fishermen's Service Centre (FSC) board between 1985 and 1990 as chairman for one year and as a member for four years. The FSC is an organization that provides assistance to fishermen in Taiwan. The FSC sponsored by the Presbyterian Church of Taiwan.

The source stated that the Yang Ming Line Company (YMLC) is owned by the government of Taiwan. The main activity of the YMLC is container shipping.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References


The China Post. 23 May 1996. (Yang Ming Plans Shipping Company.( (Taiwan Economic Daily News 23 May 1996) [Internet] URL: http://www.wtdb.com/twnews/tw0523.htm#4 [Accessed 13 March 1997]

Far Eastern Economic Review [Hong Kong]. 13 October 1994. "Ruling the Waves."
Taiwan Human Rights Association, Toronto. 3 February 1997. Telephone interview with vice-president

.