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Taipei government panned for ‘hot girls and drunks’ articles

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei City councilors yesterday condemned the city government for damaging Taipei’s international image by promoting it as a city of crazed nightlife, semi-naked girls and drunks, in a Chinese-language weekly magazine published in China.

“‘Girls who go clubbing in Taipei are all dressed in sexy outfits, showing half of their breasts and wearing mini skirts.’ Is this what the city government should be promoting? Is this the impression we want foreigners to have of Taipei?” DPP Taipei City Councilor Huang Hsiang-chun (黃向群) asked at a press conference, quoting from the magazine.

Taipei City’s Information and Tourism Department commissioned a company in March to write articles in Taiwanese Businessman Weekly, a magazine published in China with a circulation of about 80,000, to promote Taipei City to Chinese and boost tourism in the city.

One feature on Taipei’s nightlife spotlighted various nightclubs and described the girls who went clubbing as “chicks who dress hot and act wild.”

Another piece on KTV culture in the city said: “Cops are often found near KTVs clamping down on those who drink and drive. Many drunks are caught outside of KTVs.”

Huang and DPP Taipei City Councilor Hsu Shu-hua (�?�) challenged the city government over its decision to authorize articles that gave the impression that Taipei was full of wild women and drunks.

“These articles are offensive to women and promote negative values. Aren’t there beautiful spots in the city to promote?” Hsu said.

In response, Yang Hsiao-tung, (羊曉東) commissioner of the information and tourism department, apologized for the articles, but denied that the department had intended to damage the image of Taipei’s women.

Yang said the department would look into who was responsible, adding that it would vet future publications and promotional articles more carefully.
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