Hsu Tain-tsair

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Hsu Tain-tsair, M.Econ
Hsu Tain-tsair

Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair in 2007
Incumbent
Assumed office 
December 20, 2001
Preceded by Cho Chun-ying
Born January 23, 1951 (1951-01-23) (age 57)
Guantian, Tainan, Taiwan
Political party Democratic Progressive Party
Spouse Hung Shu-chen
Residence Tainan, Taiwan
Alma mater Chinese Culture University
Rutgers University
New School for Social Research
Occupation Politician
Profession Economist
Manager
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Hsu.

Hsu Tain-tsair (traditional Chinese: 許添財; pinyin: Xǔ Tiāncái; Wade-Giles: Hsǚ T'iēn-ts'ái), a Taiwanese politician, is the mayor of Tainan City since 2001. Born in Tainan County, Hsu got his Ph.D.candidacy in economics in the United States, where he started participating in the independence movement of Taiwan. In 1987, Hsu served as the chief editor of a book criticizing the Kuomintang's economic policies. The book was called Taiwanese Economic Shock (「台灣經濟大震憾」), and was part of the Freedom Era Weekly Series (自由時代系列叢書). Having been rated "top ten legislator" three times, Hsu is considered a privy councilor to the Democratic Progressive Party in the field of economics.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early years

After graduating from Duba Elementary School in Tainan County, Hsu attended Tsengwen Junior High School (曾文中學; now the Madou Junior High School), where he was a classmate of the current Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian for four years. He also attended Cheng Kung Senior High School, which is one of the top senior high schools in Taipei. In 1976, Hsu got his Master of Economics degree from the Chinese Culture University and started teaching banking the next year at the same school.[2]

In 1982, Hsu went to the United States as a Columbia University exchange scholar. In the same year, he joined the World United Formosans for Independence. He also served as the literary editor for the Taiwan Tribune. As a result, he was placed on the Kuomintang's black list and was unable to return to Taiwan. He then earned his Ph.D. candidacy from New School for Social Research.[2] In 1990, Hsu returned to Taiwan with the membership of North America Taiwanese Professors' Association. With the influence of then-legislators Chen Shui-bian, Peng Pai-hsien (彭百顯), Hung Chi-chang (洪奇昌), and Lu Hsiu-yi, the government relented and removed the restriction for Hsu to exit and enter the country, finally issuing him a new passport.[3]

Hsu started helping members of the World United Formosans for Independence return to Taiwan in 1991. In 1992, after being nominated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hsu was elected to become a member of the Legislative Yuan. In 1995, he was not nominated by the DPP, but was still elected as an independent candidate. He lost the election for the office of mayor of Tainan in 1997 and instead became the secretary-general of the New National Coalition (新國家連線) shortly after the establishment of the organization. He was re-elected legislator in the 1998 legislative election. Hsu stepped out of the New National Coalition and rejoined the DPP shortly after his re-election to the Legislative Yuan. He was nominated by the DPP Central Executive Committee (中執委) as the party's candidate for the Tainan mayoral race.[4]

[edit] Tainan mayoralty

Hsu was elected mayor of Tainan in 2001 and was re-elected to that post in 2004. In his terms as mayor, he focused on projects to beautify the city, to set up cultural parks and to strive for major constructions. He worked to help the city profit from historical assets and restore Tainan's former splendor.[5] He made 2007 Tainan's "year of culture and tourism" to promote Tainan's tourism attractions.[6]

His major mayoral achievements were the renovation of the city transportation system and overseeing the city's successful bids for the 2005 and 2006 Taiwan Lantern Festivals, the 2007 International Chihsi Arts Festival (七夕藝術節),[7] and the 2007 National Games of Taiwan (全國運動會),[8] which created business opportunities and tourism revenue. One of his major goals, the renovation of the Tainan Railway Station and National Cheng Kung University, are scheduled to be completed during his term in office and have earned him high compliments.[9]

[edit] Development

During the DPP primary election for the nomination of presidential candidate, Hsu expressed that he "will not support the candidate that opposes the construction of a underground railway system in Tainan."[10] Then-Premier Su Tseng-chang promised that the construction would be financially supported by the central government if he were elected. As a result, Hsu openly supported Su in the primary election.[11]

He also believes that in order to improve the competitive advantage of Taiwan, the government should review the distribution of resources between northern and southern Taiwan, with the purpose of balancing their development.[12]

Hsu, as a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, supports the independence movement of Taiwan. Hsu thinks that the United Nations membership referendum is an important step for democracy.[12] He participated in the "UN for Taiwan" rally on September 15, 2007.[13]

While the National Central Library is located in Taipei, Hsu strongly supports the establishment of a regional branch in Tainan City. The branch might as well be established in Kaohsiung City, another southern city.[14] However, Hsu is confident about Tainan being chosen as the location for the new branch because of the transport convenience and academic resources of the region.[15]

[edit] Environment

Under his term, the environment of the city greatly improved. Hsu started a program of having the city's garbage trucks ring out brief English lessons in 2002.[16] He promoted the use of eco-friendly chopsticks by requiring government officials and teachers to use their own reusable chopsticks when dining, expressing that the goal of the campaign is to reduce the use of disposable chopsticks by 100,000 pairs per day.[17]

Under the Hsu administration, the Chihkan Tower became the first non-smoking historical site in Taiwan
Under the Hsu administration, the Chihkan Tower became the first non-smoking historical site in Taiwan

During his second term in office, Tainan City became the first Taiwanese city to enter the Alliance for Healthy Cities of the World Health Organization. Nearly 80 percent of the city's residents approved of the efforts of Hsu and his administration in turning the southern city into a clean and beautiful metropolitan area. In addition, Tainan also became the first Taiwanese city to enter the Global Cities Dialogue. Hsu also believes that Tainan should become a city of international tourism and culture,[18] and is working towards that purpose. In September 2007, he spoke to the 2007 Asia-Pacific Cities Summit participants and stated that Tainan is blessed with natural, historic, cultural and humanistic characteristics, and that Tainan also possesses great conditions for high-tech, trade and investment development.[19]

Hsu worked to make Tainan a non-smoking environment. After the successful ban of smoking in public areas such as shopping centers, he pushed through the ban of smoking in historical sites.[20] The Chihkan Tower became the first non-smoking historical site in Taiwan after the passing of the regulation in October 2007. Other historical sites covered by the regulation include Tainan Confucian Temple, Fort Zeelandia, and Eternal Golden Castle.[20][21]

In January 2008, the government of Tainan started an operation to clean up dioxin-contaminated soil around the site of a defunct factory of Taiwan Alkali Industrial Corp (台鹼公司). The Hsu administration was the fisrt to take action since 1982, when the government became aware of the mercury concentrations.[22]

[edit] Law enforcement

Due to an accidental killing of a teenage girl while trying to shoot a psychotic suspect, the Tainan City Police Bureau made a decision to develop a special kind of baton in 2006. When dealing with suspects without firearms, the police officers are expected to use the baton first in order to reduce accidents. To commemorate the girl who died, mayor Hsu named the baton after her name.[23]

In September 2007, the Tourism Mounted Police Unit of Tainan (traditional Chinese: 臺南市觀光騎警隊) was established to attract tourists. The members of the unit wear green uniforms and ride bicycles around the city in the weekends. They facilitate tourists and at the same time try to reduce crime rate.[24]

[edit] Criticism

After the DPP nominated Hsu as the 2001 Tainan mayoral race candidate, protests led by supporters of then-incumbent mayor George Chang, who is also a member of the DPP, arose. The protesters called Hsu a betrayer of the party as he left the party in 1995. They showed their disapproval of the party's choice by burning their party membership cards.[25]

While then-mayor of Taipei Ma Ying-jeou was indicted for alleged misuse of "special allowance fund," prosecutors dropped Hsu Tain-tsair's case in March 2007.[26] However, on April 10, 2007, Hsu was indicted by prosecutors for his alleged involvement in a construction scandal and violations of the Government Procurement Act (traditional Chinese: 政府採購法). The scandal was broken by the Tainan City councillor Hsieh Long-chieh (謝龍介) in May 2006 during a council meeting.[27]

The prevention of dengue fever in Taiwan was always most successful in Tainan City. In 2007, however, outbreaks in the city was almost unstoppable. The fever outbreaks originally occurred only in Annan District, where the first case was reported in June. The health department failed to control the spread of the fever, and all six districts ended up having confirmed cases. There were even an outbreak in an old soldiers' home.[28] In August 22, Mayor Hsu apologized for the disastrous outbreak of the dengue fever, he announced that the health department will be reorganized and new officials will be appointed in six months.[29]

[edit] Electoral history

Tainan City legislative election, 1995[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DPP Hsu Tain-tsair 20.07
DPP Shih Ming-te 18.81
KMT Shih Tai-sheng 15.02
KMT Tu Chen-jung 12.25
DPP George Chang 10.05
Tainan City mayoral election, 1997[31]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DPP George Chang 35.75
KMT Lin Nan-sheng 20.97
Independent Hsu Tain-tsair 19.77
Tainan City legislative election, 1998[32]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
KMT Chen Rong-shen 12.36
NNC Hsu Tain-tsair 11.84
KMT Lin Nan-sheng 11.84
DPP Lai Ching-te 10.6
KMT Wang Yi-ting 10.59
DPP Tang Bi-a 10.24
Tainan City mayoral election, 2001[33]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DPP Hsu Tain-tsair 43.23
KMT Chen Rong-shen 37.40
Independent Su Nan-cheng 14.36
Independent George Chang 2.9
Tainan City mayoral election, 2005[34]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
DPP Hsu Tain-tsair 45.65
KMT Chen Rong-shen 41.40
TSU Chien Lin Hui-chun 12.95

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ 陳詩婷. 南市／財經資歷豐富　許添財承諾連任後　落實美好未來. ETtoday. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  2. ^ a b Mayor: Biography. Tainan City Government. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  3. ^ 羅碧霞. 我見我思 18年新聞生涯. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  4. ^ Huang, Joyce. DPP candidate choice stirs rage. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  5. ^ Wang, Scott. Restoring Luster to a Faded Beauty. Commonwealth Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  6. ^ Tainan government to focus on cultural, tourist attractions. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  7. ^ Loa Iok-sin. Tainan to host Chihsi Arts Festival. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  8. ^ Lee Jen-lung. 台南全運會 王心凌代言. China Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  9. ^ 台南市重大建設系列—都市景觀改造. Tainan City Government. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  10. ^ 蘇貞昌釋利多 台南市長許添財仍不鬆口表態支援. www.Huaxia.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  11. ^ 建設府城 許添財聲援蘇揆. Sina.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  12. ^ a b 洪瑞琴. 台灣入聯公投 許添財力挺. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  13. ^ Chang Jung-hsiang. 入聯聖火府城傳送 宣揚台灣入聯主張. Epoch Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  14. ^ 國圖改高雄？ 許添財嗆「 試看嘜」. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  15. ^ 爭取國圖分館 許添財有信心. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  16. ^ Phipps, Gavin. Tainan's garbage is fine, thank you. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  17. ^ Tainan government promotes use of eco-chopsticks. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  18. ^ Crook, Steven. Mayor Hsu Tain-tsair: Making Tainan an International City. American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  19. ^ Mayor Hsu attends Asia Pacific Cities Summit. China Post. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  20. ^ a b 吳幸樺. 赤崁樓將成全國首座無菸古蹟. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  21. ^ 全國首創 四大古蹟 今起禁菸. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  22. ^ Tainan begins dioxin cleanup. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  23. ^ 減少用槍誤射 南市改良警棍. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  24. ^ 黃博郎. 府城觀光騎警隊 成軍. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  25. ^ Huang, Joyce. DPP stands behind Hsu despite ongoing protests. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  26. ^ DPP officials to be questioned on allowance funds next week. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  27. ^ Chang, Rich. Prosecutors indict Tainan mayor. Taipei Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  28. ^ 吳幸樺. 防疫工作確實度 令人質疑. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  29. ^ 吳幸樺. 市長道歉：將有人事異動. Liberty Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
  30. ^ "3rd term legislative election database". Central Election Committee. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  31. ^ "13th term local elections database". Central Election Committee. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  32. ^ "4th term legislative election database". Central Election Committee. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  33. ^ "14th term local elections database". Central Election Committee. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.
  34. ^ "15th term local elections database". Central Election Committee. Retrieved on 2008-05-03.

[edit] External links

Government offices
Preceded by
Cho Chun-ying		 Mayor of Tainan
2001 –		 Incumbent