A memorial service for Reverend Kao Chun-ming (高俊明), 89, a Presbyterian pastor known for democracy activism who passed away on Thursday last week, was held by his family in Kaohsiung yesterday.
Kao was an advocate of Taiwanese independence and helped Shih Ming-te (施明德) flee from authorities following the 1979 Kaohsiung Incident during the White Terror era, for which he was imprisoned.
Kao’s family said he had asked that no obituary be written, and they were to decline wreaths and other memorial items, while the service was to be solemn and simple.
Photo: Huang Chia-lin, Taipei Times
Despite this, hundreds of people attended the afternoon ceremony at Hai-po Church in Hunei District (湖內), including Vice President Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁), former premier William Lai (賴清德), Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Chu (陳菊), former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Shih.
Kao’s authorship of “A Declaration of Human Rights by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan” in 1977 was a seminal moment in Taiwanese history, Lai said.
He showed “fearless leadership” in the struggle against authoritarianism, Lai said.
“Kao was kind and generous in ways that are impossible to describe in words,” he said.
A tearful Shih told attendees that Kao endured the hardships of the White Terror era while maintaining his integrity and principles while the courage of others faltered.
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
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
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