Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin’s (郝龍斌) close aide, Taipei City Research, Development and Evaluation Commission head Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東), unexpectedly resigned yesterday, sparking concerns about the strength of the Hau administration as he seeks re-election in November’s elections.
Yang tendered his resignation to Hau yesterday morning and left his office for the day. He said he resigned for “personal reasons,” declining to give more details about his decision.
Taipei City government spokesperson Chao Hsin-ping (趙心屏) said Hau did not accept his resignation, and was still trying to persuade him to stay.
Yang, who served as the Taipei City Government spokesman and head of Taipei City’s Department of Information and Tourism, played a major role in Hau’s campaign team in the Taipei mayoral election in 2006.
He has been in charge of the city’s exchanges with China, including the city government’s participation in the Shanghai World Expo. He also handled the schedule of Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng (韓正) during his visit to Taipei last week.
Yang’s resignation raised concerns about Hau’s re-election bid because he was expected to assist Hau with the campaign.
Hau has lost other key players in recent months. Council of Cultural Affairs Chairman Emile Sheng (盛治仁) resigned in November last year from the same position Yang now holds.
Former commissioner of Taipei City Department of Labor Affairs Su Yin-kuei (蘇盈貴) also left the Hau team last month over disputes with labor unions.
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