The interpretation of J.Y. Interpretation No.603, dated September 28, 2005 which made by the Judicial Yuan has deemed unconstitutional the requirement to collect and record fingerprints when applying for new identification cards as stipulated in Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 8 of the Household Registration Law. The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) has said that it is the job of the Justices to interpret the Constitution. The MOI respects this and will abide by their interpretation and shall continue handling those follow-up matters; December 21, 2005 has been designated as the start date for the comprehensive national identification card replacement program.
From June 10, 2005, when the interpretation of J.Y. Interpretation No. 599 from the Justices of the Judicial Yuan was handed down, the MOI has temporarily stopped all operations related to the comprehensive national identification card replacement program as per the decree. However, it has gone on with preparatory work to ensure it readiness for handling the card replacement operation after the Constitutional hearing.
Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 8 of the Amended Draft of the Household Registration Law have already been submitted by the Executive Yuan to the Legislative Yuan for review. The MOI shall modify the Enforcement Rules for Household Registration after the said draft has been amended and enacted into law.
In consideration of the increased workload of local household registration offices due to the three-in-one elections at the end of the year and in respect for the viewpoints of each special municipal and each county (city) government, it has become necessary to mail the relevant laws pertaining to the 2005 comprehensive national identification card replacement program to the Executive Yuan to review and amend. After re-drafting a new policy dissemination plan, careful consideration, and repeated assessment, the MOI decided to extend the inaugural date of the county magistrates and city mayors. The final date for the start of the implementation of the comprehensive national identification card replacement program is on December 21. 2005.
It is estimated that 18.76 million citizens would need to replace their national identification cards. Aside from reminding the people to wait for the notice from the household registration office, the MOI is also asking them to go and have their cards changed according to the appointed time and place. Household registration offices nationwide have also prepared photography equipment to make it convenient for semi-low income and low-income households to have their pictures taken for free; plans have also been made for household registration office personnel to go to the residences of those who are in coma caused by serious sickness and injury or are already considered a vegetable.