The Chinese government has urged Taiwan authorities to give more care to Mainland fishermen who work for fishing companies from the island province and lodge in temporary shelters.

Diao Chunhe, chairman of a Mainland coordinating committee on cross-Strait cooperation on fishermen, made the call Friday, while speaking about a fire that broke out on July 9 on a Taiwan boat that was used as "hotel" for Mainland employees working for fishing firms in Taiwan.

Labor exporting in the fishing industry was an important part of the cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation, Diao said.

He criticized the Taiwan authorities for their long neglect of the legal rights and living conditions of transient Mainland fishermen.

The situation had not changed, though the Mainland side had raised serious complaints about the issue, he said.

Last year, the Mainland was forced to ban fishermen from working out of Taiwan to protect their legal rights and interests, Diao said, although some Mainland employees were still working out their contracts in Taiwan.

"We are worried about the safety of these fishermen," he stressed, adding that the Taiwan authorities must be held responsible for the fire as they had failed to protect the Mainland fishermen's legal rights and interests.

He urged Taiwan Authorities to adopt substantial steps to deal with the issue, in collaboration with departments concerned.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2002)