The Rebar Bridge connecting Tamkang University and the Rebar University Community might be removed. Two officials of the Taipei County Government, accompanied by staff of the Office of General Affairs, TKU made a field inspection and check last Thursday. The officials of Taipei County Government pointed out that the Rebar and other two bridges were constructed without permit. They should be removed, they said.

But after the appeal of the nearby residents and the application for adopting the three bridges by Mr.Chen Chien-san, Chief of the Shui-due Li Office, the three bridges are temporarily remained.

There are four bridges: Rebar, Hanlin and two iron bridges connecting TKU and Rebar University Community. Rebar is the most important bridge for TKU students and the residents. In addition to Hanlin Bridge that had been formally approved by the Taipei County Government, the rest three bridges were constructed without permission. Taipei County Government had dispatched officials twice to inspect the bridges after receiving a protester’s accusation. The officials of Taipei County Government have confirmed that the bridges are illegal.

The Taipei County Government hoped that TKU could adopt them and bear responsibility for maintaining them. The TKU authorities also hoped that the bridges would be kept. However, the land of the bridges belongs to National Property Bureau, the Ministry of Finance (MOE). The school authorities asked the residents nearby to submit the original permission for the construction. However, the original constructor went bankrupt and no body could submit the approval. So the three bridges faced to be removed.

After the reflection of the students and residents, they showed that the communication between TKU and the community would be inconvenient if they were removed. Chen Chien-san, Chief of Shui-due Li, promised to submit an application to Tamsui Town Government for adopting them. Therefore, the three bridges could be temporarily kept.

Wu Tsung-hsien, President of Student Association, said that he was very surprised at hearing that these bridges would be removed. A large new gymnasium will be constructed next semester and the traffic will be in chaos if they are removed because they are essential paths for students and residents to pass in their daily lives. The remove will bring not only inconvenience but also insecurity to students and residents, he said.