A senior government official told reporters yesterday that whether Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫), the current chairman of the quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) will retain his post in the next reshuffle of the foundation's board of directors and senior officials -- due in December -- is entirely up to Koo.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stopped short of denying reports that DPP Legislator Chang Chun-hung (張俊宏) will replace Koo but said that the new SEF appointments will be finalized only after Koo has decided on his own future.
"It is up to Koo," he said.
A meeting of the SEF's current board of directors to discuss the appointments will be held in accordance with regulations governing the agency on an as yet undecided date before Nov. 2, one month before the current board's term of office expires on Dec. 2. It is widely expected that a number of influential figures from the pan-green camp will be appointed to the board to help execute the DPP government's mainland policy.
The board of directors hasn't been reshuffled since the DPP came to power in May 2000. The current board is dominated by figures from the opposition pan-blue camp.
A Chinese-language newspaper report yesterday cited an anonymous source from the Presidential Office as saying that Chang would be appointed as the new chairman of the foundation in November. Presidential Office Secretary-General Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) told reporters yesterday that he had no information on the matter in question.
Senior SEF appointments are made by the board of directors following recommendations from the Presidential Office and Executive Yuan.
"I have not asked the president whether he has decided on a nomination for chairman of the foundation, but Koo has told me that he wishes to relinquish some duties to work on a publication of narrative history," said Chen Shih-meng.
Koo has in the past expressed his desire to be involved in the publication of works on modern Taiwanese history.
A source close to Koo said yesterday that he had no comment to make on the newspaper report.
The Chinese-language report also stated that the foundation's secretary-general, Shi Hwai-yow (許惠祐), will also be replaced. In response to questions on this subject, Shi told reporters yesterday that he could not comment because the issue was a government matter.
Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) said yesterday: "The SEF appointments will be made with a view to providing stability. We are working on them."
Chang said yesterday that he had received no information from the Presidential Office, but that any changes at the Straits Exchange Foundation should be made to foster closer cross-strait relations.
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