Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday confirmed that the former Minister of Economic Affairs Christine Tsung (
"We thought that she was the ideal candidate to take this position," Yu said.
"Whoever takes this position has to be a person with expertise in finance, public relations and business administration. Tsung fits all these requirements."
Yu didn't elaborate on Tsung's exact start date.
Tsung decided to leave her job as minister of economic affairs on March 20 after occupying the post for only 48 days. She wrote in her resignation that she felt like "a rabbit that had mistakenly stumbled into the jungle without any knowledge of the political traps that lay all around."
Tsung's performance at the ministry had her some of colleagues questioning her professional competence.
When Tsung takes over she will be managing one of Taipei's landmarks. When the Grand Hotel was established in 1952 it was run by the state.
The hotel now belongs to the Yuan Shan Club of Taipei (台灣敦睦聯誼會), although its administrative management falls under the Ministry of Transportation of Communications' Tour-ism Bureau.
In addition to the main hotel in Taipei City, the organization also has a facility near Chengching Lake in Kaohsiung County. Both hotels are famous for their palatial buildings.
In 1995, the Grand Hotel's roof was destroyed by a blaze, forcing it to cease operations for nearly two years.
In 1997, then-president Lee Teng-hui (
According to the club, Koo has more than once said that he wants to resign his posts with club and the hotel.
Yu said that Koo had discussed the issue of bringing someone new on board since he took over as premier on Feb. 1.
"He told me he is getting old and wished that there could be a new president to lead the hotel, even though I really wanted to keep him," Yu said.
According to Yu, the 54-year-old former minister will replace Koo as the chairman of the club and the president of the hotel.
The club said hotel employees welcome Tsung as their new boss.
Tsung was low-key yesterday and said that it was not a proper time for her to speak about the appointment.
"It's not a done deal yet," she said. "I will answer everyone's questions when the time comes."
A joint committee run by the hotel and the club had scheduled a meeting for July to confirm the appointment, however Tsung was abroad at the time. The meeting is expected to be held soon.
Prior to her post at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Tsung was the general-manager of China Airlines. After she left the ministry, there were rumors she would return to China Airlines.
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