President Chen Shui-bian (
"The relationship between central and local governments is one of partnership. It is not a competitive one or one in which one [government] dominates the other. The potential of Kaohsiung is greater than that of Taipei, so the prospects for the city's future will be immeasurable after the merger," Chen said during a boat trip, while leading a group of media executives to the city's harbor district.
Having taken a strong position on the merger, Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (
PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
"The establishment of an administrative board [to facilitate the transfer of managerial authority from the central government to Kaohsiung City] aims to address shipping companies' concerns, by making it clear that the harbor is not fully under the city government's control. The city government will improve the integration of city and harbor development plans," Hsieh said.
Although the Kaohsiung City Council is still opposed to certain details of the Cabinet's merger plan, Hsieh said that he would continue to press the legislature for a "much more complete" merger.
In accordance with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' plan, administrative boards will soon be set up in all four of Taiwan's international harbors.
Nine to 13 board members, recommended by local governments and approved by the ministry, will be appointed to run each board, headed by local mayors and in Hualien's case, a county commissioner.
The four international harbors in Taiwan are Kaohsiung, Keelung, Taichung and Hualien Harbors.
Upon Chen's arrival at the harbor, Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Tsun-hsiung (
"It's the passing of a milestone for Kaohsiung. I fully support it," Chen said as he stood in the water, treading water excitedly to indicate his satisfaction with the news.
Expressing his excitement, President Chen also said that he felt "closer to the southern sea after setting foot in the harbor," and that it helped him to reflect more easily on the meaning of Taiwan being an "ocean country."
President Chen, in addition, urged Kaohsiung Harbor to maintain its competitiveness with other international harbors in the world, adding that the central government should work hand in hand with local governments to create a "win-win" situation.
Commenting on the differences between northern and southern cities, President Chen also said that "inappropriate government policies" had led to the rising unemployment rate, lack of medical and other resources, and underdevelopment in the south.
Consequently, he said, he has ordered certain important gatherings, such as state banquets, be held in central and southern Taiwan.
Recalling his past experiences as a maritime lawyer, President Chen added yesterday that he was delighted to meet former clients in Kaohsiung, including the head of the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau who briefed yesterday's meeting.
The government is aiming to recruit 1,096 foreign English teachers and teaching assistants this year, the Ministry of Education said yesterday. The foreign teachers would work closely with elementary and junior-high instructors to create and teach courses, ministry official Tsai Yi-ching (蔡宜靜) said. Together, they would create an immersive language environment, helping to motivate students while enhancing the skills of local teachers, she said. The ministry has since 2021 been recruiting foreign teachers through the Taiwan Foreign English Teacher Program, which offers placement, salary, housing and other benefits to eligible foreign teachers. Two centers serving northern and southern Taiwan assist in recruiting and training
WIDE NET: Health officials said they are considering all possibilities, such as bongkrekic acid, while the city mayor said they have not ruled out the possibility of a malicious act of poisoning Two people who dined at a restaurant in Taipei’s Far Eastern Department Store Xinyi A13 last week have died, while four are in intensive care, the Taipei Department of Health said yesterday. All of the outlets of Malaysian vegetarian restaurant franchise Polam Kopitiam have been ordered to close pending an investigation after 11 people became ill due to suspected food poisoning, city officials told a news conference in Taipei. The first fatality, a 39-year-old man who ate at the restaurant on Friday last week, died of kidney failure two days later at the city’s Mackay Memorial Hospital. A 66-year-old man who dined
‘CARRIER KILLERS’: The Tuo Chiang-class corvettes’ stealth capability means they have a radar cross-section as small as the size of a fishing boat, an analyst said President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday presided over a ceremony at Yilan County’s Suao Harbor (蘇澳港), where the navy took delivery of two indigenous Tuo Chiang-class corvettes. The corvettes, An Chiang (安江) and Wan Chiang (萬江), along with the introduction of the coast guard’s third and fourth 4,000-tonne cutters earlier this month, are a testament to Taiwan’s shipbuilding capability and signify the nation’s resolve to defend democracy and freedom, Tsai said. The vessels are also the last two of six Tuo Chiang-class corvettes ordered from Lungteh Shipbuilding Co (龍德造船) by the navy, Tsai said. The first Tuo Chiang-class vessel delivered was Ta Chiang (塔江)
EYE ON STRAIT: The US spending bill ‘doubles security cooperation funding for Taiwan,’ while also seeking to counter the influence of China US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law a US$1.2 trillion spending package that includes US$300 million in foreign military financing to Taiwan, as well as funding for Taipei-Washington cooperative projects. The US Congress early on Saturday overwhelmingly passed the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act 2024 to avoid a partial shutdown and fund the government through September for a fiscal year that began six months ago. Under the package, the Defense Appropriations Act would provide a US$27 billion increase from the previous fiscal year to fund “critical national defense efforts, including countering the PRC [People’s Republic of China],” according to a summary