◎ 1646: Taiwan was colonized by the Netherlands.
The household registration system in Taiwan began during the middle of the Dutch colonization period.
In the first year of the reign of Emperor Yung-li of the late Ming Dynasty, the Dutch colonizers started to perform a census survey in line with their colonization policy to facilitate levy of a poll tax. This was the start of Taiwan’s household registration system.
◎ 1906: During the period of Japanese colonization
Japanese colonizers assigned household administration functions to the police authorities in an attempt to investigate the work force and maintain social security under their colonization policy.
The current household registration system was first established in 1906. The system covered both the native population and the transient population. The Japanese government established census books, and primary and secondary books. The census was conducted by the police while household registration was handled by the township, bao, jia level clerk officers.
◎ The period shortly after the end of World War II:
During the period shortly after the end of World War II, the Household Registration Law was officially promulgated on December 12, 1931. The Enforcement Rules for the Household Registration Law were promulgated on June 15, 1934, but were not put into enforcement until 1946. Household registration was the responsibility of the civil administration, while the census was conducted by the police authority in accordance with the regulations governing attendance of duties. . Thus household registration and household census affairs were under two separate systems, run by the civil administration and police respectively.
In Cimei Township, the census affairs are the responsibility of the Cimei Township Government. In its initial phase, there was one director to head the office who was responsible for household registration affairs. That position was concurrently served by the Township Commissioner, whereby household registration staff members took charge of census related jobs. Subsequently, with increasingly complicated responsibilities , the Household Registration Office was established, but was still concurrently headed by the Township Commissioner. Serving under the Township Commissioner was one deputy head for the Household Registration Office, to take charge of the substantial census affairs.
In July 1953 the Household Registration Section was officially established to accommodate the growing population.
◎ 1969~1973: The period in which household registration and police functions were combined into one unit :
The Central Government launched a system combining the household registration and police functions into a single unit on a trial basis during the Period of mobilization for the suppression of Communist rebellion in 1969, to assure tight census control and, in turn, enhance public security.
In 1973, the census and household registration functions were handed over from the civil affairs authorities to the police authorities. Meanwhile, the Household Registration Sections at the township/city/district government level were placed under the jurisdiction of the county/city level police administrations.
In July 1969, to meet the needs brought about by the Period of Communist Rebellion, the census and household registration functions were placed under the police authority on a trial basis, for tighter census control and national security. In turn, the Cimei Township Household Registration Office was officially set up, with one directorship that was concurrently served by the Township Commissioner, and one deputy directorship that was concurrently served by the director of the Magong Police Administration.
When the Central Government amended the Household Registration Law in 1973, all household registration offices for townships and cities became completely independent under the superintendence of the county level police administration offices . The Cimei Township Household Registration Office was concurrently headed by the deputy-director of the Magong Police Administration. It was, therefore, officially named the Cimei Township Household Registration Office of the Penghu County Police Administration.
◎ 1982~1992: Trial program for household registration affairs computerization:
The Executive Yuan (the Cabinet) established the “Household Registration Information Planning Panel” in March 1985 and launched the household registration planning program .
In 1987, the Cabinet approved a trial program for the Zhongshan District Household Registration Offices of Taipei City and the Sindian City Household Registration Office, Taipei County.
The computerized system was officially put into universal use on July 1, 1993 after the trial program proved to be a success.
◎ 1992: Separation of household registration and police functions .
When the Period of Communist Rebellion came to an end, the household registration functions were restored to the civil authorities, starting from July 1, 1992. In turn, the Taiwan Provincial Department for Civil Affairs established Section VI, the Household Registration Affairs Section . All county/city governments established a household registration affairs unit to take responsibility for household registration and administrative affairs, and to superintend all household registration offices underneath them with respect to household registration affairs.
◎ 1993~1997: Implementation of computerization:
Computerization was carried out in three phases over four years, in municipalities, counties and cities respectively .
Phase I (July 1993~June 1995): Successful completion in the Ministry of the Interior, 54 household and armed forces units in Taipei City, Kaohsiung City, for a total of 4.07 million people.
Phase II (July 1994~June 1996): Successful completion in the Taiwan Provincial Government, Keelung City, Taipei County, Taoyuan County, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Taichung County, Yunlin County, Pingtung County, Chiayi County, and Kaohsiung County, totaling 383 household and conscript units, for 10.98 million people.?
Phase III (July 1995~June 1997): Successful completion in the Fujian Provincial Government, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Changhua County, Chiayi City, Tainan County/City, Hualien County, Taitung County, Penghu County, Kinmen County, and Lienchiang County, 361 household and conscript units for 6.07 million in total.
On April 1, 1997, once the new office premises were completed and ready for computerized census and conscription functions , the Cimei Township Household Registration Office was relocated to a new office building at the address: 97~3, Hsiaochihchiao, 6th Lin, Chihtung Tsun, Cimei Township, Penghu County
◎ Since 1997 until present: Total computerization
The nationwide computerized system went into online operation starting on October 1, 1997.
