Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) yesterday remained tight-lipped about her choices for the party’s future cadres, but listed several names that she said would be entrusted with important positions within the KMT.
Hung made the remarks during a visit to Chiang Kai-shek’s (蔣介石) mausoleum in Taoyuan’s Dasi Township (大溪) to commemorate the 41st anniversary of Chiang’s death in 1975.
She was accompanied by a group of KMT members, including KMT deputy caucus whip Lin Te-fu (林德福), Chiayi City Council Speaker Hsiao Shu-li (蕭淑麗), Taitung County Council Speaker Rao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) and former KMT legislator Lin Kuo-cheng (林國正).
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Hung’s visit followed a trip to the mausoleum earlier yesterday by President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and Vice President Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) to pay tribute to Chiang.
As Hung had previously indicated that she would drop “hints” about her selections during her scheduled visit to the Chiang mausoleum, reporters were on hand to hear the names.
“As you can see, many heads of city and county councils, elected representatives and legislators have joined me here today. They are all going to be entrusted with significant positions in accordance with the constituencies they represent and their respective capabilities,” Hung said.
Hung said their posts would be closely intertwined with the KMT’s electoral strategies for the 2018 local elections, as the party would require their grasp of local situations and efforts to promote party affairs at the grassroots level.
However, Hung said her lineup would be announced at different stages instead of all at once, adding: “You will know tomorrow [today] morning.”
The media reported that Hung is planning to designate more than one deputy secretary-general, with Hsiao, Rao and Lin Kuo-cheng all potential candidates.
Hung, the KMT’s ninth chairperson, said her heart was filled with mixed feelings when she stood in front of Chiang, who served as the KMT’s director-general, after having witnessed the party’s ups and downs in recent years.
“I feel like I am carrying a heavy burden, particularly considering the predicaments facing the party right now. We need greater wisdom and endurance to overcome these straits,” Hung said.
When asked for comment on former KMT secretary-general Lee Shu-chuan’s (李四川) proposal to abolish an annual forum between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party, Hung said that the forum has its uses.
She said she would review and make improvements to the parts of the forum that the public deems “problematic.”
However, she added: “That does not mean we will stop holding the forum.”
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
RSS