Ko Chih-en Forms Kaohsiung City Advisory Group, Announces 35-Member List

(Central News Agency reporter Tsai Meng-yu, Kaohsiung, June 8) Kuomintang Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en today announced the first batch of 35 members for her city advisory group, which includes former subordinates of ex-Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu and a former Taiwan People's Party (TPP) legislator. Ko stated that regardless of party affiliation or political color, anyone with solid municipal governance experience is welcome.

Ko held a press conference today to announce the first batch of 35 members for the city advisory group. The list includes Li Liang-chien, Distinguished Professor of Finance at I-Shou University; Chang Chi-lu, Distinguished Professor of Political Economy at National Sun Yat-sen University; former National Kaohsiung Normal University President Wu Lien-shang; and former Kaohsiung City Legal Affairs Bureau Director Wu Chiu-li.

Ko stated that during her visits to various parts of Kaohsiung in recent years, she has deeply realized that many municipal challenges cannot be addressed from a single perspective and require a professional team to assist with comprehensive thinking. Therefore, she established the city advisory group to leverage the expertise of the advisors and ensure that proposed policies can be implemented pragmatically.

Additionally, Ko proposed three "flagship policy" research plans, including the "Big Airport Project," future planning for the 205th Arsenal, and an assessment of the future development of Cijin District, focusing on boosting transportation, marine, and tourism industries.

The chief conveners of the city advisory group are Li Liang-chien and Chang Chi-lu. Li previously served as the Director of the Kaohsiung City Finance Bureau and, along with Wu Chiu-li, was a department head during the administration of former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu. Chang Chi-lu is a former TPP legislator.

In response to media questions about whether the inclusion of former Han Kuo-yu administration officials and a former TPP legislator in the advisory group signifies a "Blue-White alliance" (cooperation between the KMT and TPP), Ko stated, "There is no issue of having too many members from the Han team; the only issue is whether they have solid municipal governance experience."

Ko said that Li Liang-chien and Wu Chiu-li possess professional backgrounds and practical experience, while Chang Chi-lu offers valuable insights in both academia and practice. She expressed a desire to work across party lines to make Kaohsiung a better place. "Regardless of party affiliation or political color, even if Green Camp (DPP-affiliated) scholars are willing to join the city advisory group, they are very welcome," she added.

Furthermore, Li Liang-chien and Chang Chi-lu pointed out during the press conference that while Kaohsiung has seemingly attracted high-tech industries like TSMC in recent years, the city still faces issues such as population loss, low wages, air pollution, and high housing prices. They stated that solutions would be proposed in due course.