KMT Legislator John Chang (章孝嚴) will have to overcome seemingly insurmountable legal hurdles to amend the names of his parents on his identification card.
On Friday, the Ministry of the Interior spelled out the problems he would face in recording former president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國) and his mistress, Chang Ya-juo (章亞若), as his biological parents.
PHOTO: FROM THE BOOK ``CHIANG CHING-KUO AND CHANG YA-JUO' BY CHO
John Chang and his twin brother, Winston Chang (章孝慈), were born in Gueilin, Guangxi Province, in 1941.
Household registrations for illegitimate children in Taiwan usually list only the biological mother, leaving the space for the father blank.
But on John Chang's household registration, Chang's uncle, Chang Hau-juo (章浩若), and his wife, Chi Chen (紀琛), are listed as his parents.
To change this, the ministry said, Chang would have to prove two things: that Chang Hau-juo and Chi Chen are not his biological parents; and that Chiang and Chang Ya-juo were indeed his biological parents.
"To erase the current listed parents' names, Chang has to prove in court that the household registration was forged and that the current listed parents are not his biological parents," said Vice Minister of the Interior Chien Tai-lang (
According to the Household Registration Law (
To prove who his biological parents are, Chang would have to provide a birth certificate or DNA tests, the ministry said.
Both couples are dead, but Chang said that the sons of Chang Hau-juo and Chi Chen in China would be able to prove that he doesn't have any blood relations with them.
He also said he would try to contact the hospital in Gueilin where he was born to get his birth certificate.
Nevertheless, a judge told the Taipei Times that John Chang could get the names changed if he could prove that he had been `adopted' by Chiang, although this would prove nothing about who his real father is.
According to Article 1065 of the Civil Code, a child born out of wedlock who has been acknowledged by the natural father is deemed to be `legitimate.' If the child has been maintained by the natural father, acknowledgement is deemed to have been established.
"By law, if an illegitimate child wants to become a `legitimate' child, he or she must complete the legal process of adoption. The law also requires the natural father of the illegitimate child to accompany the child through the process, including filing an adoption application and attending a civil trial."
According to the judge, the biggest problem for John Chang is that Chang Hau-juo, his registered biological father, is not alive to "accompany" him through the process. He would also have difficulty proving that Chiang had raised him and treated him like a son.
However, if he succeeds, it seems he will be able to keep the family name has been using.
Under the Article 1059 of the Civil Code, children assume the surname of the father, unless he has agreed that the child shall assume the mother's surname, and only then if the mother does not have any brothers.
However, the ministry decided on Friday that the Civil Code does not apply to illegitimate or adopted children.
"This article does not state either way that adopted children have to take the name of the mother or the father," a civil judge at the Taipei District Court (台北地方法院), who wished to remain anonymous, told the Taipei Times. "As a result, Chang will not have a problem with this."
Nevertheless, Chang, as a lawmaker, could face legal problems over changing the names he registered as his parents before the last legislative elections.
A senior official at the Ministry of Justice said that if Chang succeeds in changing the names, he may be violating the Criminal Code (刑法).
"His wish to amend his parents' names on his identification card is also a message that he was lying when he registered for the legislative election," the official said. "To solve this problem, he may need to turn himself in and receive a non-indictment order from the court."
When Chang brought up the issue of "correcting" his parents' names on his identification card on July 5, he said that everybody knew who his real parents were.
"I am just trying to correct a mistake which has existed for nearly 60 years. That's all," he said.
Nevertheless, the recognition could benefit him.
"Once Chang can prove his relationship with Chiang, he will be able to enjoy and share the same benefits and responsibilities as a son of Chiang with his other legitimate children, which is clearly regulated on the Article 1069 of the Civil Code," the judge said.
The article states that the legitimation of a child born out of wedlock is retroactive to the time of birth, but the existing rights of third parties are not affected thereby.
Reacting to the ministry's conclusions, Chang on Friday night issued a press release expressing his appreciation.
"Lawmaker Chang will submit evidence to prove that he doesn't have biological relations with Chang Hau-juo and Chi Chen [but does] with Chang Ya-juo," the release said.
One lawyer said the case showed the flaws in the Civil Code.
"Chang's case, at least, forces the government to clarify the uncertainty of the current regulations," said Liu Meng-Jin (
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