Chungshui District Office Apologizes for Giving Chinese-Made Gifts at Taichung Elementary School Graduation Ceremony

Graduation ceremonies are currently underway across elementary and junior high schools in Taichung City. A parent recently posted online, expressing concern that the graduation gift from the Chungshui District Chief contained packaging labeled entirely in simplified Chinese characters—revealing it to be a Chinese-made product. The parent also reported a strong, unpleasant odor emanating from the gift box, urging public agencies to prioritize award items with traditional Chinese packaging or those made in Taiwan (MIT).

In response, the Chungshui District Office issued a written statement, thanking parents and citizens for their feedback. It explained that the gifts were procured through a small-scale purchasing procedure from a domestic vendor. However, the office acknowledged that the labeling, origin identification, and perceived quality of the gifts caused confusion and dissatisfaction among some parents and students, and expressed deep regret.

The office emphasized that the District Chief Award was originally intended to recognize students' efforts and achievements. It pledged to review its procurement and inspection processes, and in the future, will prioritize items with traditional Chinese labeling, made in Taiwan (MIT), with clear sourcing, stable quality, and suitability for student needs. It also committed to strengthening pre-delivery checks to prevent recurrence. (Editor: Li Shu-Hua) 1150614