Taipei, Jan. 31 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou called Saturday for a join effort to revive the recessed economy, and urged citizens to spend their NT$3,600 vouchers that they received from the government two weeks ago to help stimulate consumption.

Ma made the call during a visit to Changhua City, central Taiwan. At a local temple where he went to pray, the president presented the people gathered there with red envelopes.

The queue in front of the temple stretched for 2-3 kilometers, as people lined up in the hope of getting one of the president’s 600 red envelopes that each contained a good-luck token of a coin-shaped chocolate in gold wrapping.

Red envelopes containing cash are usually given as gifts during the Lunar New Year, the most important festival in Taiwanese and Chinese culture.

Earlier in the day, Ma was in Taichung City where he visited a housing unit that the city government is offering as a prize in a lucky draw to encourage consumers to spend their shopping vouchers in the city.

Ma commended the city government for its ingenious efforts to attract consumers.

Asked whether the government will distribute a second round of shopping vouchers, Ma said an assessment would first have to be done.

During his stay in Taichung, Ma also paid a private call on a former senior presidential adviser, Lin Yang-kang, who also previously served as Taipei mayor, Taiwan provincial governor, minister of the interior, vice premier and president of the Judicial Yuan before retiring in 1994.

During the meeting, Ma praised the 82-year-old politician for his many achievements, including his decision to build the Feicuei Reservoir during his term as Taipei mayor to ensure that Taipei City and County would enjoy a clean water supply, according to Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi. (By Elizabeth Hsu)