Mayor’s remarks:
I. Communication and exchange between two cities with great results
1. At the beginning of this month, Mayor Ko Wen-je led a team of Taipei City government officials to visit our city. This is the first administrative exchange between the political/economic capital and the cultural capital of Taiwan. As Mayor Ko is a surgeon and me, a physician, this is the first time in the history of Taiwan that two medical doctors and mayors from the north and south of the island met and exchanged with each other.
2. During our exchange, we shared the four major urban development goals and specific methods of “Cultural Capital, Low-carbon City, Smart City, Tourism Paradise” with the team of Taipei City officials. We also introduced the achievements and vision of our city in the promotion of the cultural, tourist and agricultural industries. The Taipei City team also shared with us the current status of its industries, tourism promotion and the preparation work for this year’s Universiade. Both sides exchanged and shared achievements and experiences with each other.
3. Through these two-way communications and exchanges, we deeply understand that the governance of each city is, in a way, similar to providing treatment to different patients such that corresponding medicines are adopted to treat different diseases appropriately. Tainan City, Taipei City, and other cities all have their own advantages and issues pending resolution. Nonetheless, we believe that through frequent communication and exchange along with assistance to others, we can help the entire island to grow and prosper together.
II. University alliance recruits heading south
1. Last week, I was accompanied by 12 university presidents of the “Tainan University Alliance (TUA)” for a trip to Southeast Asia to visit the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce, Alumni Associations of Taiwan Universities, university alliances and official agencies in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. During the trip, nine industry-academia cooperation and talent cultivation memoranda were signed, and the results were remarkable.
2. With regard to government communications and exchange, we also visited officials in Malaysia and Indonesia to discuss urban development, the orchid industry, Muslim-friendly policies, industrial development and culture such that the international visibility of Tainan City was effectively enhanced.
3. In addition to various achievements from the visits, I would like to sincerely thank the pillar of the industry sector in Tainan－the Eternal Golden Association, for its generosity in providing scholarships to overseas students in Taiwan and the 12 universities for their exceptional efforts in building the image of an advanced and livable city for Tainan and providing opportunities for outstanding international students to come to the city. I also truly believe that as long as people in Tainan work together as one, a great and prosperous future can be created for the city.
4. For the subsequent work of promoting cooperation with the TUA, overseas student living experiences and support, Southeast Asian economic information and corporate internships and the work of promoting Tainan City to become a Muslim-friendly city etc., relevant bureaus and departments are kindly requested to actively cooperate and provide assistance in the handling of such matters.
5. I thank Director-general Hsu of the Department of Information and International Relations for her efforts in leading the team this time and encourage the Department of Information and International Relations to continue in their best efforts.
III. Great success at the Orchid Show with outstanding performance again
1. The 2017 Taiwan International Orchid Show was a great success. With the combined efforts of various units, numerous records were set, including a record-breaking number of visitors during the first weekend. The total number of visitors to the show this year reached 248,067, exceeding the record of last year, and the feedback from all industries and sectors was remarkable. I sincerely thank Director Hsu of the Agricultural Bureau and colleagues of relevant bureaus and departments for their great efforts during the show.
2. During this year’s Orchid Show, with President Tsai Ying-Wen’s special participation in the opening ceremony and visits to the show by ministers of various ministries including Premier Lin Chuan, President of the Control Yuan, Chang Po-ya, Secretary-general of the Executive Yuan, Chen Mei-ling, Minister of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, Ho Chen-tan, Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Chen Liang-gee, Minister of the Council of Agriculture, Lin Tsung-hsien, and Spokesperson of the Executive Yuan, Hsu Kuo-yung, etc. and the visits by Mayor Ko and Mayor Twu, our Orchid Show was a great success. We thank them for their great support.
3. For the success of the Orchid Show, I would also like to thank the Chairman of the NCKU Research and Development Foundation, Huang Huang-hweng and the Principle of NCKU, Su Hui-zhen, for their commitment and full support to making the event exceptional and outstanding. International recognition for the Taiwan International Orchid Show has been achieved, and I look forward to the efforts of all units in upholding the spirit of “Pursuing Excellence” such that through careful examination, we are able to find imperfection and establish plans with active improvements for future reference. I believe that the Orchid Show next year will be even more remarkable.
Reports
I. Report on the “Tainan City Land Development Affairs Execution Outcome and Review,” submitted by the Land Administration Department (refer to written resources for details).
Resolution: Approved for reference filing.
Mayor’s comments:
(1) City land rezoning and section expropriation are important measures to promote city construction and development. Such measures help to construct comprehensive public facilities, to provide quality construction land, to drive the development of surrounding areas and to further increase subsequent construction in the area and support other city construction projects with surplus budget, which truly practices the principle of “giving land value increments to the public” such that all city residents can enjoy the fruits of development.
(2) After the merger of Tainan city and county, the city government has consecutively completed the five development zones of the Shuijiaoshe urban land consolidation, Anping waterscape section expropriation, Dekao section expropriation, Xinheshenei section expropriation and Jiufenzi urban land consolidation, etc. In the next two years, seven development zones of the Pingshi camp zone urban consolidation, Xinying transit center zone urban consolidation, Yongkang logistics urban consolidation, Jiali junior high school urban consolidation, South Tainan station section expropriation, Yongkang artillery school section first phase expropriation, China Town and Canal Nova section consolidation etc. will also be completed consecutively in order to acquire public facility lands without compensation for the city, including a total of 156 hectares for large parks and the saving of an amount of NTD 26.5 billion in land expropriation as well as providing quality building land of a total area of 214 hectares. The city government is expected to receive income exceeding NTD 20 billion, and the development outcome is remarkable. In the future, all major public construction in the development zones, including the Pingshi transfer station, Xinying passenger transfer center, Taiwan Railway Tainan Station, Tainan City Library New Headquarters etc. will be completed sequentially. I would like to particularly thank Director-general Hong and colleagues of the development team of the Land Administration Bureau for their endeavors and also thank relevant bureaus and departments for their great support.
(3) As land development processes tend to involve conflict between the public interest and individuals, such processes often encounter great difficulties, and the Land Administration Bureau has continuously sought for improvement. I would like to encourage the Land Administration Bureau to uphold the spirit of “Pursuing Excellence” so that not only the principle of administration according to the law is followed but also the benefits of residents are considered in order to care for the needs of the public and to establish a solid foundation for the long-term development of this city. Relevant bureaus and departments are also requested to pay attention and to cooperate in handling such matters in order to build a comfortable Tainan City.
(4) From the report, the importance of state consolidation and state expropriation can be understood. To return benefits to all residents, we have insisted on the use of state-run methods since the merger of the city and county. The use of state-run methods would certainly be associated with the need for manpower, and the secretary-general is requested to assist the Land Administration Department in the supply of the manpower demanded.
II. Public Health Bureau reported the “2016 Administrative Achievements” (refer to written sources for details)
Decision: Approved for reference filing.
Mayor’s comments:
(1) The population of Tainan City above the age of 65 has reached 13.58%, which is only less than the 15.33% of Taipei City and is higher than the national average of 12.99%. To satisfy the demand for urban health, the Public Health Bureau has provided a care plan of “whole person, full time, whole process, whole family” in four main aspects of “health promotion”, “early stage diagnosis and treatment”, “infectious disease prevention” and “Smart Medical System”, allowing residents of all age groups to receive complete health and medical care, and such efforts shall be recognized.
(2) For the health promotion, to guarantee the “food safety” of residents, three-level food quality control is implemented to effectively establish a food safety protection network so as to guarantee the health of consumers. The city government also used “districts” as centers and “township chiefs” as guardians to establish a comprehensive mental health system in order to significantly reduce the number of suicides in 2016. For early diagnosis and treatment, the city government provides the service of “mobile hospital, physical examination for all residents” in order to compensate for insufficient medical resources in remote areas. In addition, the concept of “early diagnosis, early treatment” of three phases and five levels of public health is utilized. Over the past six years, a total of 174,148 people have been served under such program and the number of participants continues to increase year after year with a service satisfaction reaching 99%. Moreover, the number of elderly with false teeth reaches more than 50,000 people, which is ranked the highest in the nation. Upon subsequent investigation and tracking, the living quality of elderly with false teeth is found to have significantly improved.
(3) For infectious disease prevention, to effectively prevent dengue fever, the city government established a scientific disease prevention strategy based on the experience of disease prevention in 2015 to construct a disease status geological information system in order to actively promote and educate residents about the importance of disease prevention. The number of local incidents of dengue fever reported has been only two cases since the summer of 2016, which is a remarkable result. To effectively control enterovirus, health education on frequent hand washing has been actively promoted along with monitoring work. In addition, to increase the flu vaccination rate in the city, the Public Health Bureau incorporates vaccination with the living habits of residents and has established stations at all major night markets to perform vaccinations in order to reduce the impact of the flu season significantly. For the smart medical care, in cooperation with the Long-term Care 2.0 program of the central government, the city government has launched remote health care service and established health stations in community care centers, allowing data on blood pressure of residents to be uploaded onto a Cloud platform for residents to perform management of their own health. Consequently, the issue of insufficient medical resources in remote areas and unbalanced health of people are improved.
(4) Over the past six years, the life expectancy of residents in Tainan has increased by 1.32 years, which is higher than the national average of 1.02 years and is also ranked in the highest among six cities. Such result indicates the increase in health awareness of residents and improvement in medical technologies, which is also an achievement accomplished through the joint efforts of the Public Health Bureau and all relevant bureaus and departments in the management of the city. In 2016, Tainan City participated in the 8th Taiwan Health City Award Competition and received a total of 20 awards; the city also received four awards from the Seventh Global Conference of Western Pacific Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC); the number of awards received by the city from these two events is also the highest among all cities nationwide. Such an achievement is remarkable and is an indication of the performance in promoting health policies of the city that receives great recognition domestically and internationally. I would like to thank former Director-general Lin for his great efforts in establishing a solid foundation and current Director-general Chen for his efforts in the seamless takeover of responsibilities. I also encourage the Public Health Bureau, Environmental Protection Bureau and relevant bureaus and departments to continue in their best efforts in achieving the goal of improving the health of residents and extending the rich life of residents, making Tainan a healthy and energetic city in the long term with great longevity and joy.