Bill Text: HI HR47 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Taiwan; Sister-State Relationship; Strengthening

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-04-01 - Resolution adopted in final form. [HR47 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-HR47-Introduced.html

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	47
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

urging THE GOVERNOR, Department of Business, Economic DEvelopment, and Tourism, Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i, Board of Education, and Hawai‘i's congressional delegation TO strengthen the SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP WITH TAIWAN IN COMMEMORATION OF THE twentieth anniversary of the sister-state relationship between hawai‘i and taiwan.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States have long enjoyed a cordial friendship based on shared common interests in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is one of the United States' most important economic and security partners in Asia; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i established a sister-state relationship with Taiwan in 1993, but an economic relationship was already established before then; and

 

     WHEREAS, over the years, there have been few overseas locations with more cultural and economic activity than Taiwan, including business missions, educational and special promotional fairs, cultural exchanges, investor seminars, media productions, and gubernatorial visits; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1994, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism opened the State of Hawai‘i Office in Taipei to take advantage of the rapidly increasing investor interest in Hawai‘i, symbolized by the purchase of several well-known resort hotels; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Governor is urged to support a free trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan and further support Taiwan's participation in regional economic integration such as Trans Pacific Partnerships; and

 

     WHEREAS, following the recent addition of Taiwan to the United States Visa Waiver Program, Hawaiian Airlines and China Airlines will soon provide direct flights between Honolulu and Taipei, and the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism should seize the golden opportunity to launch effective promotion campaigns in order to attract more tourists from Taiwan; and

 

     WHEREAS, Taiwan's energy policy is similar to Hawai‘i in that both seek to increase energy efficiency and promote greater use of renewable sources to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels; therefore, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism should collaborate on research and development of clean energy technologies and cooperate on the development of sustainable industries and green projects; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i and Taiwan have rich and diverse cultural backgrounds, since Taiwan's indigenous people and the native Hawaiians are part of the Austronesian culture ring; therefore, the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to welcome Taiwan's participation in international cultural events held in Hawai‘i, such as the "2013 Honolulu Festival" and the "2013 Asia Pacific Dance Festival"; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i and Taiwan have their own distinct features when it comes to education and both countries have much to mutually learn from one another; therefore, the Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i and the Board of Education are urged to strengthen an educational relationship with Taiwan by encouraging more exchange students to travel between the two countries and to advocate for more academic cooperation opportunities; and

 

     WHEREAS, Hawai‘i's Congressional delegation is urged to support Taiwan's participation in international bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), The United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) and is requested to continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the international arena for the common good of all peoples of the world; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2013, that the Governor; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i; Board of Education; and Hawai‘i's Congressional delegation are urged to strengthen the sister-state relationship with Taiwan in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Hawai‘i and Taiwan; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Board of Regents of the University of Hawai‘i; Board of Education; and each member of Hawai‘i's Congressional delegation.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Taiwan; Sister-State Relationship; Strengthening