Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤), a former chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), yesterday passed away in Taipei at the age of 85 due to multiple organ failure, Mackay Memorial Hospital said in a statement.
Chiang was rushed to the hospital after collapsing at a restaurant at the Regent Taipei hotel while having dinner on Saturday, the hospital said.
After undergoing emergency treatment for aortic dissection, he was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, where he died two days later, the statement said.
Chiang was SEF chairman from 2008 to 2012, when he became head of the Straits Economic and Cultural Interchange Association.
During his career in government, Chiang held several high-level positions, including minister of economic affairs from 1993 to 1996 and Legislative Yuan vice president from 2002 to 2005.
Chiang was born in Japanese colonial-era Taiwan on Dec. 16, 1932, and obtained a doctorate from the University of Tokyo in 1971.
Eight restaurants in Taiwan yesterday secured a one-star rating from the Michelin Guide Taiwan for the first time, while three one-star restaurants from last year’s edition were promoted to two stars. Forty-three restaurants were awarded one star this year, including 34 in Taipei, five in Taichung and four in Kaohsiung. Hosu (好嶼), Chuan Ya (川雅), Sushi Kajin (鮨嘉仁), aMaze (心宴), La Vie by Thomas Buhner, Yuan Yi (元一) and Frassi in Taipei and Front House (方蒔) in Kaohsiung received a one-star rating for the first time. Hosu is known for innovative Taiwanese dishes, while Chuan Ya serves Sichuan cuisine and aMaze specializes
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