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Universities back merger of Tainan city and county

Fifteen universities in Tainan yesterday signed a declaration in support of a merger between Tainan city and county.

Chen Chin-sheng (陳錦生), president of Chang Jung Christian University, urged the government to recognize the importance of Tainan as a historical city in Taiwan.

“Tainan was the capital of Taiwan for 200 years, much longer than Taipei has been a capital,” Chen said. “The nation’s first ­western-style hospital, first high school and first printing press were all introduced in Tainan,” Chen said.

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) president Lai Ming-chiao (賴明詔), who also endorsed the declaration, compared Tainan’s role to that of Kyoto in Japan.

Lai said the government should consider integrating local cultural and educational resources and turning the region into a historical area like Kyoto.

Several cities and counties have proposed mergers or upgrades to special municipality status after the legislature approved an amendment to the Local Government Act (地方制度法) in April.

The university representatives said yesterday that Tainan city and county should also qualify for a merger. The declaration of support highlighted the historical, cultural and educational significance of Tainan.

“Greater Tainan was where Han and Dutch people first encountered each other,” the declaration said.

“In addition, the Confucius Temple in Tainan was built in 1665, marking the start of the study of Confucianism in Taiwan. [Tainan] is replete with historical, cultural and educational uniqueness,” the declaration said.
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