[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E307-E308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING CLARK K.H. CHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 1997

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor Mr. Clark K.H. Chen and his service not only to Taiwan, but to 
the people of Guam as well.
  Mr. Chen was instrumental in establishing the sister city 
relationship between Taiwan's and Guam's respective capitals, Taipei 
and Agana, in 1973. In 1974, he arrived on Guam as Vice Counsel on 
Taiwan. During his appointment, he encouraged stronger economic ties 
between our islands.

[[Page E308]]

  In 1977, Mr. Chen was promoted to serve as counsel of the Consulate 
General Office in Houston, Texas, and had to leave Guam. In 1979, when 
diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of 
China were suspended, the consulate general office was renamed the 
coordination council for North American Affairs with Mr. Chen as senior 
assistant.
  Mr. Chen's stellar diplomatic service earned him various promotions 
in subsequent years, including private secretary to the foreign 
minister and deputy director general of the coordination council for 
North American Affairs in San Francisco, CA.
  In 1991, Mr. Chen returned to Guam and assumed the top position of 
director general in the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. It was 
during his tenure that Guam's relationship with Taiwan was further 
cemented. As head of this consulate office, Mr. Chen's leadership 
resulted in the passage of the Taiwan Visa Waiver program, the growth 
of Taiwanese businesses on Guam, and the increase of Taiwanese 
investments in Guam. As an example of this relationship, I would like 
to point out that a power plant project, scheduled to be operational 
this year, would not have been possible without investments from 
Taiwanese businesses.
  Mr. Chen's reassignment for home service in the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs in Taipei has saddened many on Guam. His diplomatic service on 
my island spanned the tenureships of four Guam governors. Not only were 
economic bonds bolstered under his administration, cultural ties were 
also strengthened through the increasingly frequent visits by Taiwanese 
tourists under the Taiwan Visa Waiver program.
  I commend Mr. Chen for his dedication and service while Director 
General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. Clark and his wife, 
Cindy, will be missed, for they consider Guam as their second home, and 
the people of Guam consider the Chens as veritable members of our 
island family.

                          ____________________