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TAIWAN starts a three-month voter registration today of overseas Chinese for the island's first direct presidential election.

 A spokesman for the Cabinet-level Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission said he expected no more than 100,000 overseas electors would return to the island to vote in the poll, to be held in March.

 Chinese who are aged 20 or above, hold the nationality of the Republic of China and can prove their foreign residency, will be eligible. They must register at their original domicile in Taiwan before February 12, the Commission's Secretary-General Lin Chao said.

  A promotional film will also be broadcast on foreign television stations.

  Mr Chao said it had not yet decided if the film would be aired in Hong Kong. 'We will be careful in the promotional activities in some countries so as not to provoke their governments' dissatisfaction over the issue of dual citizenship.'   Mr Chao said it would be insensitive for Taiwan authorities to advertise the registration details in some Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

  According to surveys done by the commission, about 50 per cent of the eligible voters in the United States would return to vote, while only 20 per cent of those in South East Asia were likely to make the trip back home.

  Mr Chao said he expected no more than 100,000 overseas registered voters to turn up.

  Overseas Chinese are considered a strong force of support to the political parties in Taiwan.

  Many of them have been mobilised to lobby for votes in local polls in the past and the upcoming legislative elections, despite the fact that they are ineligible to vote in the legislative elections.

  Taiwan authorities amended the Constitution last year to allow overseas Chinese to register for the presidential election.

  Mr Chao said it was estimated that Taiwan had 200,000 to 300,000 citizens living overseas.



Taipei in drive for overseas voters