Former National Security Council deputy secretary-general Philip Yang (楊永明) yesterday expressed concern about the Keelung City Government’s plan to establish a red-light district in the city.
Yang, who is planning to run in the city’s mayoral election next year, yesterday said the city government had to give serious consideration to how such a district would affect Keelung residents.
“As far as I understand, the Keeling City Council has not approved the proposal and no polls have been conducted to gauge public opinion about the proposal. I think the city government needs to consider the development from the people’s perspective,” he said.
Yang made the comments after the city government sent its proposal to the Ministry of Interior for further review, but refrained from discussing his mayoral bid. The plan would turn a Keelung street into a red-light district.
Yang resigned from his council post earlier this month to focus on the election. He announced his intention to run at a meeting with Keelung City Council Speaker Huang Jin-tai (黃景泰) and said he would move to Keelung next month.
He will likely be running against Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強), who is reportedly President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) preferred candidate to represent the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in the race.
Lo, a Keelung native, has recently been emphasizing his deep ties to the city.
Last week, he went from Taipei to Keelung by train to meet with locals and discuss the city’s development at a local coffee shop.
He has also talked about his ideas for Keelung’s development on his Facebook page, hinting at his interest in joining the race. However, he has remained evasive when asked to confirm his intention to run by media.
Keelung Mayor Chang Tong-rong’s (張通榮) poor approval ratings and performance review has made the mayoral election of key concern for the KMT, as it seeks to obtain victories in next year’s seven-in-one local elections.
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