February 28, 1997 is the 50th anniversary of the 228 Incident .To help ease this historical wound, eradicate the misunderstanding, and further the assimilation of ethnic groups, this Directorate will issue a commemorative stamp on that day by using as the subject matter the monument to the 228 Incident provided by the 228 Incident Memorial Foundation The doves, standing for peace will also be highlighted in the stamp design.    In l945 when Taiwan was retroceded to China flowing the Sino-Japanese war, most Taiwanese had little idea about their fatherland's political systems and social situations. They also held values significantly different from those of their fellow countrymen on the mainland. In the meanwhile, the administrative systems then in operation were imperfect, and many discharged Taiwanese-Japanese soldiers found it difficult to make a living. All these engendered, in silence, a feeling of discontent with the local government. On February 28, 1947, as a result of the police's improper handling of a cigarette smuggling case, some residents in Taipei began to demonstrate. The demonstration unexpectedly first resulted in a violent conflict between ethnic groups, and then turned into an islandwide political campaign against the government. Many people were killed in the incident, which is regarded as a great tragedy in the history of Taiwan's retrocession. It is hoped that the people in Taiwan will never forget the lesson from the incident and come out from the shadow of the tragedy to build a harmonious and peaceful society in which all people can march hand in hand toward a bright future.