A local leader on one of the small islet groups of Penghu is threatening to "mortgage" the islets to China for a loan if Taiwan's central government continues to ignore the township's financial woes.
Hsu Lung-fu (許龍富), mayor of Wang-an township (望安), said his administration was now NT$20 million in debt. The Penghu County government has offered a NT$5 million subsidy, which Hsu said was inadequate.
According to the Chinese-language media, Hsu also threatened to hold a referendum on whether to break away from Taiwan and sell some of the islets to gaming syndicates seeking sites for casinos.
Hsu has already shut down a shuttle boat service run by the township administration, effectively cutting off transport links between Wang-an and the main islands of Penghu. A township-owned ice factory has also closed, creating a shortage of ice for fishermen.
According to TSU Legislator Chen Chien-ming (
Asked by Chen whether Hsu had the authority to "mortgage" his township to China, Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) said Hsu was only talking about it at the moment.
When asked about the PRC flag, Yu said Hsu was free to hang the PRC flag in his own office but that he would be breaking the law if he flew the flag in public.
Taipower (台電) and Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信) were scheduled to cut off power and telephone lines yesterday to the township administration office, which hasn't paid its bills for three months. However, the two companies decided to keep the services working after news about Hsu's protests appeared in the local media.
Nevertheless, Hsu yesterday shut off power to the township office and cut the phone lines, forcing the office's staff to work on paper instead of computers.
Located about 20km south of Makung, the capital of Penghu County, Wang-an township consists of the main Wang-an islet, about 7km2, and a number of smaller islets. Wang-an has a total population of about 2,000.
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