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KMT legislators argue over dock

Hundreds of Keelung residents gather in front of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday, protesting against the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taipower’s plan to build a coal unloading dock at Rueifang to supply material to the nearby Shenao power plant. PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lee Ching-hua’s (李慶華) attempt to overturn a Council for Economic Planning and Development decision not to allow the Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) to build a coal unloading dock at Fantziao (蕃仔澳) resulted in a confrontation with his KMT colleague, Hsieh Kuo-liang (謝國樑), yesterday.

The bay lies between Taipei County’s Rueifang Township (瑞芳) and Keelung. Leading some 500 residents from Rueifang in a demonstration outside the legislature’s front gate, Lee, who represents constituents in Taipei County, said the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Taipower’s plan to build the dock at Rueifang to supply material to the nearby Shenao (深澳) coal-fired power plant had passed the Environmental Protection Administration’s (EPA) environmental impact assessment and also won the support of township residents.

However, legislators from Keelung interfered, calling for a change of the construction site to Suao Port (蘇澳港) or the new Taipei Port, Lee said.

He accused those opposed to the project of seeking benefits from the shipment of coal and urged politicians from Keelung to stay out of Rueifang’s business.

At the same time, Hsieh led some 1,000 Keelung residents along nearby Jinan Road to stage a protest, chanting, “Keelung wants tourism, not pollution.”

Hsieh criticized the plan as a threat to the marine ecology of Keelung, especially as Keelung is planning to build a marine science museum overlooking the bay area.

“Keelung City was not included in the [EPA’s] meetings to review the environmental impact of the project. Such an environmental review was not legitimate,” Hsieh told the demonstrators.

“Would Legislator Lee be willing to join me in opposing this project from an environmental protection point of view?” he said.

The council ruled last month against Taipower’s construction plans for Fantziao Bay and demanded a different construction location because of opposition from Keelung councilors and legislators. Lee recently initiated a proposal in support of the project and was expected to refer it to the KMT caucus to seek further support this week.

When asked for comment, KMT caucus secretary-general Chang Sho-wen (張碩文) blamed the Cabinet for failing to mediate between Lee and Hsieh.

He said the caucus had decided to propose freezing the budget request for the project until after the Cabinet had time to successfully communicate with the pair.
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