Premier Lien Chan then urgently approved a two-week leave to give Soong time to reconsider. On January 5 Lien met with Soong for over two hours. Lien repeatedly affirmed Soong's contributions to the nation and refused to discuss the resignation; he urged Soong to take the larger situation into account and not let down the residents of the province.
連院長緊急批示讓宋楚瑜休假兩周好好考慮，並於一月五日晚間、即將出訪中美洲及歐洲前約見宋，二人長談了兩個半小時，連戰一再肯定宋楚瑜對國家的貢獻，並絕口不談其辭職一事，希望他以大局為重，不要辜負省民所託。