The administrator spent half of each year in Xiamen and half in Taiwan, handling both political and military affairs. The civil office under the administrator was called "Taiwan Prefecture," while the military office was called the "Taiwan Garrison."
道台每半年輪流就任於台灣和廈門之間，綜理政務及軍務，道台之下，設文治機關「台灣府」及武備機關「鎮台」。