Independent Taipei mayor candidate James Soong (
The mobile campaign office -- a remodeled tour bus covered with Soong's campaign advertisements and equipped with tables, computers, fax machines and wireless Internet service -- will travel to different municipal districts to allow the candidate to exchange ideas with residents.
"I want to help Taipei residents find hope again. Taipei requires substantial changes. As the country's capital, the city should serve as a window connecting Taiwan to the world," Soong said.
Soong, who temporarily left his position as People First Party chairman to join the mayoral race, also promised to amend regulat-ions, revive the district's famous hot springs business and reform traditional markets around the city.
He urged both local and central governments to put public interest above commercial ventures.
In response to concerns that the remodeled bus could violate transportation regulations, Soong argued that the bus is not a transportation tool nor a promotional vehicle while criticizing the Taipei City Government for failing to update regulations in accordance with the time.
"There are many outdated municipal regulations, and the city government should come up with new regulations to keep up with the times," he added.
In related developments, Chin-ese Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei mayoral candidate Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), yesterday appealed to the younger generation by initiating a "Blue Sky Creative T-Shirt Design Competition," inviting young people to design T-shirts that would represent the spirit of Taipei.
Asked about continuing questions about his integrity, Hau urged all candidates to refrain from engaging in smear tactics.
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