The nomination of the president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan will take practical experience and academic renown into consideration, Presidential Office spokesperson Alex Huang (黃重諺) said, adding that calls to consider the gender ratio of appointees to the Council of Grand Justices would also be taken under advisement.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) is reportedly considering former grand justice Hsu Tzong-li (許宗力) and Taiwan High Court Judge Tsai Chung-tun (蔡炯燉) for president and vice president of the Judicial Yuan, respectively, following the withdrawal of Public Functionary Disciplinary Sanction Commission Chief Commissioner Hsieh Wen-ting (謝文定) and Judicial Yuan Secretary-General Lin Chin-fang (林錦芳).
Local media reports also said that the president might tap National Taiwan University law professors Hsu Chih-hsiung (許志雄), Huang Chao-yuan (黃昭元), Chan San-lin (詹森林) and human rights lawyer Huang Juei-min (黃瑞明) as grand justices.
The president is using a variety of methods to garner feedback on who should be appointed to the positions, including meeting with potential candidates, Alex Huang said.
Meanwhile, the Awakening Foundation on Friday said that the rumored candidates were not only mostly male, but many of them were also known for their conservative commentaries regarding gender equality.
The president should nominate women who are aware of gender issues, the foundation said, adding that such a move would serve to shake up the prominently conservative male upper echelons at the Judicial Yuan.
The foundation suggested that Tsai Ing-wen name former grand justice Hsu Yu-hsiu (許玉秀) as a candidate for either president or vice president of the Judicial Yuan, adding that such an appointment would not be unconstitutional, as the Constitution does not restrict reappointment to office.
In response, Alex Huang said the president would make the appointments in accordance with the Constitution, adding that while judicial reforms should be transparent to the public, it should also be implemented by individuals familiar with judicial proceedings.
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
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