STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1548-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   S.C.R. No. 52

      H.D. 1

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on International Affairs, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 52 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM AND THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS TO INCREASE VISITORS FROM TAIWAN, AND REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO EXPAND THE VISA WAIVER PROGRAM TO INCLUDE TAIWAN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) to implement programs to increase visitors from Taiwan, and requesting the Secretary of Homeland Security to expand the visa waiver program to include Taiwan.

     The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and several concerned individuals supported this concurrent resolution.  DBEDT and HTA provided comments.

     Your Committee has amended this concurrent resolution by:

     (1)  Requesting the Southern Taiwan visa office to find ways to allow people to receive visas without having to travel to Northern Taiwan; and

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on International Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 52, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Tourism & Culture in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 52, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on International Affairs,

____________________________

RIDA T.R. CABANILLA, Chair