The Control Yuan’s probe into the project stemmed from complaints filed by environmentalists who oppose the removal of more than 700 old trees, 169 of which were designated as “preserved trees,” to make way for the construction, which will occupy about 18 hectares on the former site of the Songshan Tobacco Factory in Xinyi District (信義). The Dome will feature an indoor 40,000-seat stadium, hotels, department stores, a shopping center and an office building.
Huang dismissed questions about the timing of the review, saying it was a long-held practice for the Control Yuan’s Education and Cultural Committee to meet on the Thursday of the second week of each month, which was when his motion to issue the corrective measures was passed.
The Taipei City Government, meanwhile, said it would consider annulling its build-operate-transfer contract with Farglory for the construction of the Dome if the contractor refused to cooperate and propose new subcontractors for the project.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said yesterday that the city government had stuck to the contract since it was signed with the company in 2006, but would review the project after the Control Yuan ordered the corrective measures.
“Although the city government has been executing the contract, we should examine the problems with the contract following the Control Yuan’s issuance of corrective measures,” he said during a question-and-answer session at Taipei City Council.
Hau said that the city government would ask the contractor to propose new subcontractors for the project before determining whether to annul the contract.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City Councilor Hsu Chia-ching (徐佳青) yesterday blasted President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) for initiating the project during his tenure as Taipei mayor, calling it a bad policy and urging Hau to halt the project.
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