The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus yesterday accused Clement Chang (
But some legislators present at the occasion contradicted that accusation, saying that they were not treated by Chang but rather joined him at a banquet hosted by someone else.
According to the legislators, the banquet at a Howard Hotel two days ago was to celebrate the birthday of a famous fortune-teller Chen Lung-tien (陳隆添), who is a friend of theirs, and they were invited by the fortune-teller himself before Chang's nomination was confirmed.
Besides the fortune-teller, Chang and Chang's wife, the group was joined by about a dozen businesspeople.
The invited legislators were from several parties and included KMT lawmakers Huang Chao-shun (黃昭順), Chiu Ching-chun (邱鏡淳) and Liu Cheng-hung (劉政鴻), Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Lin Chung-cheng (林忠正) and Non-Partisan Solidarity Union lawmaker Yen Ching-piao (顏清標).
KMT caucus whip Huang Teh-fu (
"This is an insult to the Control Yuan, and also to the Taiwanese people," Huang said.
Huang said that the legislators were invited to the banquet by someone other than Chang, and that they didn't know Chang would be there until after they arrived and realized that the banquet was not just a simple dinner with friends.
The legislators agreed that they did not know Chang would attend, but stressed that the banquet was not hosted by him.
"I only drank a quick round with the people present and then I left," Chiu said. "I didn't know about Chang's presence in advance, and I received the invitation two months ago."
Liu also said that he only knew it was the fortune-teller's birthday and did not know Chang would be there.
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