A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council yesterday denied Hong Kong media reports that identity cards will be issued to replace the permits currently used by Taiwan residents to travel to the mainland.

The reports are "totally groundless," Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference.

To safeguard the rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots, relevant departments on the mainland have developed policies and implemented measures to facilitate the movement of Taiwan residents into and out of the mainland for study and work, Li said.

"We'll continue to do so in the future but have no plan to replace the permits with ID cards," Li said.

As for Taiwan journalists stationed on the mainland, Li said that mainland authorities have extended the time they are allowed to stay per visit to three months, with multiple entry privileges.

Li also disclosed that the Kuomintang Party (KMT) has asked the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration to review its denial of a planned visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, minister of the Taiwan Affairs Office.

Chen Yunlin was scheduled to visit Taipei in mid-December for a high-level forum between the Communist Party of China and the KMT but the DPP administration rejected the KMT's application last month.

Li stressed that Chen Yunlin's visit is aimed at promoting mutual understanding, peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily December 15, 2005)