Wed, May 22, 2002 page3

• Presidential advisers make tracks

  • STAFF WRITER
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  After two presidential advisers rejected the renewal of their appointments saying the positions don't allow them to make real contributions, the Presidential Office yesterday promised to make improvements in how advisers serve the nation.

  Secretary-General to the President Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) said that the Presidential Office would to try to change the minds of advisers seeking to leave and would institute new measures to give them more of a chance to express their opinions.

  For example, Chen said, advisers' suggestions could be compiled into a book for public reference.

  Chang Jung-fa (張榮發), chairman of the Evergreen Group (長榮集團), turned down a Presidential Office offer to continue on as a senior adviser to the president. For somewhat different reasons, Liu Chia (劉俠), an activist for the physically challenged and founder of the Eden Social Welfare Foundation (伊甸殘障福利基金會), has also rejected the chance to continue as a presidential adviser.

  Every May, the president renews over 100 senior advisers to the president and national policy adviser posts.

  According to Evergreen Group officials, Chang is too busy with his business and must often go overseas. Given these circumstances, Chang aides say he has been unable to attend Presidential Office meetings and has therefore been unable to contribute in any substantive way.

  Anonymous sources, meanwhile, said that Chang rejected the offer because he wants to play down any political affiliations to facilitate the Evergreen Group's bid to enter the Chinese market.

  Chang is also dissatisfied with the DPP government for its policy putting off direct cross-strait shipping and its failure to finalize negotiations on Taiwan-Hong Kong shipping links, sources said.

  Liu had other concerns. She complained that the position of national policy adviser had given her little access for conveying the opinions of the underprivileged to the president.

  Although advisors are invited to a routine monthly meeting at the Presidential Office, the event is not designed to let advisers express their opinions, Liu said.

  According to Liu, the president usually makes a brief appearance at the meeting to deliver a speech and leaves when his speech is over.

  In addition to Chang and Liu, Huang Wu-hsiung (黃武雄), a new nominee for national policy adviser, has also turned down the offer.

  Huang, a professor of mathematics at National Taiwan University, who is an active member of Taiwan's educational reform movement, said that the Presidential Office had not consulted him before including him on the list.

  Huang said he would be better off remaining in the private sector, because "public discourse" is still lacking in the government's effort to reform Taiwan's education system.

  For your information

  Leaving

  * Chang Jung-fa, chairman of the Evergreen Group, said he does not have time to be a policy adviser, although some think he wants to distance his company from the government to appease China. * Liu Chia, Eden Social Welfare Foundation founder, says she had little chance to convey her opinions to the president.
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