An anonymous person has launched a campaign on the Threads social media platform to recall Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安).
Calling on people to take part in the first stage of the recall, which involves collecting signatures, the campaign initiator says Hsu is unfit for the post, listing issues such as an apartment complex fire in the city on May 26, and allegations that she allowed her boyfriend to exert undue influence in city affairs.
Kao has been charged with corruption, with a ruling expected on July 24.
Photo: CNA
Kao ranked second to last among 13 mayors in a policy satisfaction survey conducted by Global Views Monthly this year. The survey excluded mayors from the six special municipalities.
Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) ranked last, and civic groups have launched a recall campaign against him.
The Hsinchu City Government yesterday said that it respects the netizen’s political remarks and each citizen’s free will to express their personal opinion.
A recent media poll found that 60 percent of Hsinchu residents are in favor of Kao’s administration, although that indicates that more effort is needed from Kao’s team to win over the remaining 40 percent, the city government said.
It added that it would pursue tangible policies to improve Hsinchu residents’ welfare.
The Hsinchu Election Commission said it has not yet received a recall proposal from the petitioner.
In the first stage of a recall campaign, a proposal requires signatures from at least 1 percent of the constituency to be approved, while the second stage requires signatures from at least 10 percent of the constituency, the commission said.
The constituency votes in the third stage, and a recall is only passed if the number of valid “yes” ballots outnumbers the number of “no” ballots and makes up more one-fourth of all eligible voters in the electoral district, it said.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,