Senior presidential consultant Hou Ho-shong (
The personnel reshuffle was prompted after Premier Frank Hsieh (
Cho also announced that Hsu Hsiang-kun (
"As you all know, the premier has been looking for a water resources expert to fill the vacancy for vice minister. Hou definitely fits the premier's needs," Cho said.
Cho made the announcement on behalf of the premier during a press conference in the Executive Yuan's lobby yesterday afternoon.
According to Cho, Hsieh made his final decision sometime on Monday night. He decided to invite Hou to join the Cabinet because Hou is both a water resources expert and a certified engineer.
Hou has worked with the premier before, serving as Kaohsiung's deputy mayor when Hsieh was mayor.
"As for Yin, the premier decided to temporarily transfer him to a senior consultant position and will definitely review his situation again when more vacancies become available," Cho said.
"Hou will succeed Yin immediately," he said, adding that the changes to Hsu and Lee's positions would be carried out next month.
Prior to yesterday's announcement, former Water Resources Agency director-general Hwang Jing-san (
Hwang, however, was not too interested in returning to the Cabinet during interviews with Hsieh, according to one of the premier's staff members.
Hsu, meanwhile, was panned by Minister of Economic Affairs Ho Mei-yueh (
also see story:
Hou Ho-shong is new vice economic affairs minister
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