Many of the country's overseas envoys are wealthy, according to their latest assets disclosure reports filed with the Control Yuan.
A newly published Control Yuan report shows that all of the nation's 12 ambassadors or overseas representatives who filed their annual assets disclosure reports possess more than NT$10 million (US$303,000) in family assets.
Ambassador to Costa Rica Wu Tzu-dan (吳子丹) has more than NT$23.66 million in bank deposits under his and his wife's names, in addition to more than NT$1 million worth of artwork and more than NT$300,000 worth of jewelry.
11 plots of land
Representative to Italy Cheng Shin (鄭欣) reported more than NT$50 million in bank deposits plus real estate holdings in France, 11 plots of land in Taiwan and stock holdings valued at more than NT$4.8 million.
Representative to Poland Teng Tzu-lin (
Representative to Spain Francisco Hwang (
Representative to Russia Chen Jung-chieh (陳榮傑) reported more than NT$6.8 million in bank deposits, NT$14.69 million in securities holdings and artwork and antiques valued at more than NT$5 million.
Not so well-heeled
In comparison, most members of the Cabinet are not so well-heeled, with only a few notable exceptions.
Vice Premier Tsai Ing-wen (
Moreover, she has placed more than NT$86.29 million in state bonds into trust and has invested more than NT$5.1 million in profit-making businesses.
Chairman Hu Sheng-cheng (胡勝正) of the Council for Economic Planning and Development possesses five plots of land, a house, more than NT$20 million in bank deposits and more than NT$70 million in securities.
In addition, Hu reported possession of 20 gold ingots worth more than NT$450,000 in market value, a diamond ring worth NT$230,000 and a diamond necklace valued at NT$250,000.
Another affluent Cabinet member is Department of Health Minister Hou Sheng-mao (侯勝茂), who has nearly NT$20 million in bank deposits and more than NT$10 million-worth of securities holdings.
Moreover, he has placed into trust 13 pieces of land, seven houses and NT$28.22 million worth of stock holdings.
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