Tainan Mayor William Lai (賴清德) yesterday made a farewell speech at Tainan City Hall as he prepared to take up his new post as premier, announcing that Tainan City Government Secretary-General Li Meng-yen (李孟諺) would serve as acting mayor for the next year.
The operations of the city government would continue as usual under the leadership of Li, Lai said in his final report at city hall.
Lai said he would be able to serve more people when he takes up his new post as premier and that his love for Tainan would never change.
Photo: Chiu Hao-tang, Taipei Times
“I am forever indebted to Tainan residents for their support,” Lai said.
He said he was able to make great achievements in the southern city, with the support of his administrative team and residents, which earned him the recognition and trust of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
The city government’s achievements over the past few years include the implementation of effective financial management, flood control measures and transportation infrastructure projects, Lai said.
About 80,000 jobs had been created and the unemployment rate dropped from 4.2 percent to 3.9 percent, while the population increased by 10,000, he said.
The city government has been promoting tourism to the region in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and China, and more than 20 million tourists visited Tainan last year, he said.
The premier-designate, who is heading to Taipei to take up his new post, was applauded by city government employees and Tainan residents, who gathered at city hall to hear his final address as mayor.
Lai and his administrative team bowed to residents and thanked them for their support during the seven years he served as mayor.
On Tuesday, Lai was named as the replacement for Premier Lin Chuan (林全), who tendered his resignation the previous day.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
RSS