Regulations Governing the Trial Operation of Transportation Links Between Kinmen/Matsu/Penghu and the Mainland Area Article 4

Shipping operators shall submit the application, operation plan and related documents to the navigation authorities for approval before operating regularly-scheduled shipping routes between the ports of cross-strait transportation links on offshore islands and the ports of the Mainland AreaShipping operators of the Mainland Area shall obtain the services of shipping agencies of the Taiwan Area to apply for the aforesaid approval.Approval in the first paragraph shall be valid for up to two years subject to renewal upon application that may be filed 30 days before the end of the approval period.After public announcement of operation of the business referred to in Paragraph 1 by non-vessel shipping operators, and upon a consensus reached between the navigation authorities and the Mainland affairs competent authority that there exists a need to continuously operate shipping routes, non-vessel shipping operators may request the shipping operators of Republic of China flag ships to operate the regular shipping routes based upon the business demand. Discretionary subsidy may be provided for any losses resulting from the aforesaid operation; the terms and conditions, the method, and the supervision, evaluation, etc. of such subsidy shall be made by the navigation authorities.