The desire to return at will to Kinmen rose to fever pitch that year. On August 23, some 200 natives of Kinmen took part in a protest march in Taipei. Among other demands, they called for an end to military administration and legalization of direct phone calls between Taiwan and Kinmen. "You've got to remember that the people of Kinmen are very good-natured, loyal types," says Weng.
金門人渴望自由回家的情緒在這年達到高潮，八二三當天有兩百多位金馬民眾走上台北街頭進行「八二三金馬大遊行」，提出終止戰地政務、電話直播等多項訴求。