Disregarding protests from the National Police Agency (NPA), Taipei County Commissioner Chou Hsi-wei (
Chou said Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) had called him three times on Wednesday night at the request of NPA Director Hou You-yi (侯友宜) in an attempt to dissuade him from making the promotions.
"If the central government still considers the promotions controversial, it is welcome to send the case to the Legislative Yuan for a vote," Chou said.
Of the 140 promoted officers, 122 will receive a NT$4,150 monthly raise with the remainder getting a NT$2,600 monthly raise.
"I will not budge on my decision to promote the officers in accordance with the laws," Chou said.
"If the central government refuses to negotiate with us, there will be more promotions in the near future," he said.
special municipality
Chou announced the promotions last Friday after the county government was formally upgraded to the status of special municipality on Oct. 1.
While Chou cited the Local Government Act (
Chou said the promotions were intended to boost morale ahead of the legislative elections in January and the presidential elections in March, when police officers would have to take on additional responsibilities.
"Promoting local officers also represents the county government's determination to improve public order ... We are willing to discuss the issue with the NPA to resolve the controversy," he said, while urging Minister of the Interior Lee Yi-yang (
`invalid'
Hou said yesterday that Chou's promotions were invalid.
"Chou's promotions are invalid because they lack legal basis," Hou said when asked for comment outside the Home and Nations Committee meeting.
"Public servants should act according to the law, but [the] Taipei County [Government] is going against that principle now," Hou said. "[The promotions] are detrimental to the police force."
Hou added that he would continue to negotiate with the Taipei County Government for the sake of the police force.
Additional reporting by Loa Iok-sin
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