Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday announced that Liu San-chi (
Yu said he believes Liu is highly qualified for the post given his extensive experience serving the department.
The premier said he had consulted President Chen Shui-bian (
Having served in the budget and accounting department for 27 years, Liu, 55, told the media that he is honored to take over the post and will work to allocate resources in the most efficient manner possible.
Acknowledging it as a tough task to distribute public funds, Liu said, "I will continue to play the `bad cop' [in performing the task] in a bid to make the best use of government funding."
The new chief praised the performance of his predecessor, saying the department's system was well designed under Lin's management. Liu said he will follow that system, adding that it had received the support of the premier.
Liu graduated from the accounting department of Soochow University. He has served as a section chief and the deputy head of the DGBAS. He has also acted as head of the accounting department of the Ministry of Education.
The Cabinet is undergoing a small reshuffle in the wake of the policy about-face on the reform of grassroots financial institutions last week.
Lin Chuan and Director of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine Lee Chin-lung (李金龍) were appointed earlier this week as the new minister of finance and the chairman of the Council of Agriculture, respectively, to replace the outgoing Lee Yung-san (李庸三) and Fan Chen-tsung (范振宗).
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore