Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (
"The central government has been asking us to wear tiny shoes and drink iced water on cold days," said Ma at a press conference after returning from a trip to Europe.
Ma said that the central government should not have announced Wang's appointment without consulting with him first, abiding by the spirit of autonomy in local governments. Nonetheless, the mayor thanked Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅) for informing him Wednesday afternoon by telephone.
Ma said he had discussed the issue briefly with Wang and added that he would decide whether to approve of Wang's transfer within the next two days. Ma also said Wang, who leads a force of more than 8,000 policemen, had helped him in achieving security goals in Taipei City.
Wang, 53, had close working relationships with local DPP officials, including Taipei County Commissioner Su Chen-chang (蘇貞昌), Kaoshiung County Commissioner Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) during Chen's tenure as Taipei mayor from 1994 to 1998.
Observers speculated that Wang's taking office would trigger another round of personnel infighting between President Chen and Mayor Ma.
The interior ministry yesterday refused to respond to Ma's remarks, but Vice Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (李逸洋) told the Taipei Times that "they will wait for Mayor Ma's final decision patiently."
Lee also denied the Taipei City Government was kept in the dark about Wang's new appointment until Chang had informed Ma.
Premier Tang Fei (唐飛) announced Wednesday morning that Wang would be appointed as the new head of National Police Administration, while Chao Gang (趙鋼) would succeed Chen Hung-yi (陳弘毅) as the new director-general of the National Fire Department, noting that both nominations were proposed by Chang.
The two new appointments, however, will not take effect until Tang receives and signs official documents related to the appointment. Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior said Ma was unlikely to veto Wang's appointment, but would certainly delay the procedure for submitting the official documentation.
Chao is likely to accept the position, but has avoided making public statements on the appointment. Chao's wife, who refused to give her name, told the Taipei Times yesterday that Chao was expecting to meet with Tang and Chang. "He hasn't received the official documents yet, and more details need to be discussed," Chao's wife said.
Chao, 55, was director-general of the Fire Department in the Taiwan Provincial Government and is known for his professionalism in rescue work. Chao stumped for People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) during this year's presidential election and is regarded as being close to Soong.
Chao's appointment is believed to a goodwill gesture from President Chen extended to Soong in return for the PFP chairman's agreement to attend a proposed round-table meeting. The move has also been interpreted as an encouragement to the local rescue agencies which were frustrated after coming under fire for the Pachang Creek (
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