Taipei Times: You made an abrupt decision to run for Kaohsiung mayor after your nomination for Examination Yuan vice president was rejected by the legislature. Some people have questioned the legitimacy of this decision and suggested that you joined the race as a means of retaliation. What is your response to this criticism?
Chang Po-ya
Throughout my political career, I have weighed the opinions of voters before making most of my decisions. For example, after my mother Hsu Shih-hsien (
Praised by Chen as "having the most comprehensive administrative experience and excellent competency" and known as an incorruptible Cabinet member enjoying the highest popularity, I was nominated as the deputy of a person who had no administrative experience at all. Then I realized a person's talent and competency were not the main considerations behind the nominations.
A few days after that, I consulted voters and won their support for my candidacy in the Kaohsiung mayoral race. Today, after having had enough of the snobbishness of politics, I can finally decide on my own as to where and whom to serve. And so I have come back to Kaohsiung City, a place where I studied and taught for 20 years. I want to do my part for the 1.5 million Kaohsiung residents. Hopefully a member from Chiayi's Hsu family, who fought for two generations for the democratic development of Taiwan, will have the democratic ideal revived in the democratic holy land of Kaohsiung. During a previous debate for the mayoral candidates, former DPP chairman Shih Ming-teh (施明德) pointed out that the ruling party has lost its ambition to fight for democracy. Looking back on the contributions that the Hsu family has made to democracy in Taiwan over a period of nearly half a century, I would like to see this democratic model reappear here.
TT: With a background of being a member of a political family from Chiayi, what advantages do you enjoy over other candidates who emphasize their Kaohsiung nativity and close connection with the local communities of this city? How are you going to persuade the electorate to vote for you?
Chang: Ever since my mother entered politics in Chiayi City, our family has stuck to a non-partisan approach and challenged the ruling party. I've succeeded with my mother's model in Chiayi City and adhered to a non-partisan, incorruptible style. This is the reputation that we have built up over the past half a century, which has remained firm both during the time of authoritarian rule and after the transition of power. This is an advantage that I enjoy.
As far as the practical situation of the mayoral campaign is concerned, incumbent Mayor Frank Hsieh (
TT: As we know, Kaohsiung City faces both the recession and a high unemployment rate. If elected, what will you do to tackle these problems?
Chang: To improve the economy of Kaohsiung, I will work to have the management of the Kaohsiung Harbor transferred to the Kaohsiung City Government, integrate airlifting and shipping services, develop Kaohsiung into a free port, establish a special economic zone for cross-strait trade, promote e-commerce and assist industries to upgrade themselves and enhance their competitiveness.
In addition, I will provide preferential incentives to attract investment and build up a tourism system linking the downtown and suburban areas to stimulate growth in the number of tourists to the city. Under my leadership, the city's economic growth will surpass the average national growth rate by 20 percent, while the unemployment rate will drop by 20 percent. I will can assure you that the industrial sector will have promising prospects and residents will see improvements to their lives.
TT: You have set a goal to develop Kaohsiung into an international cosmopolitan city. What substantial steps will you take to attain this goal?
Chang: On the internationalization of the port city, I will work on opening a new era and enhancing the international competitiveness of Kaohsiung. To this end, I will carry out the following policies.
Firstly, I will promote direct cross-strait air and shipping links between Kaohsiung City and some fixed destinations in China. This will help make Kaohsiung a cosmopolitan city where businesses will set up their headquarters to reach to the Chinese market.
Secondly, I will build an international conference center and world trade center in Kaohsiung, set up an "international conference and exhibition zone" and lay out a commercial district to boost international business opportunities.
Thirdly, I will develop an international tourism industry with indigenous qualities; promote city-to-city diplomacy; strengthen the economic, cultural, athletic and artistic exchanges with sister cities.
Fourthly, I will have schools provide English lessons and world civic education to first grade students. I will also open long-life learning classrooms offering English programs for adults and set up inquiry service centers for our international friends to build Kaohsiung into an international city of goodwill.
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