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Tainan official apologizes over Chinese health gaffe

The director of Tainan City Government’s health bureau issued a public written apology on Thursday for a gaffe related to Chinese tourists.

In the statement, Hu Shu-chen (胡淑貞) described the entire incident as a careless slip and she urged the media not to overreact to her words.

The controversy began when Hu, in response to questions from a councilor on Monday about measures to prevent the spread of contagious diseases as larger numbers of Chinese tourists begin arriving next month, said that municipal authorities would “disinfect the places where Chinese tourists have passed through.”

Hu’s reply sparked widespread criticism and some unlicensed radio stations in southern Taiwan that support the pan-green camp even quoted her in their program.

Claiming that her words about disinfection had “nothing to do with Chinese tourists,” Hu said she did not expect the matter to become so complex and apologized.

As a “healthy city” certified by the WHO, Tainan welcomes visitors from around the world, including China, Hsu said.

Hsu said that municipal authorities had stepped up disinfection in all tourist spots throughout the city as it was peak season for enterovirus.
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