Miaoli County Receives Sole 'Outstanding' Rating for Promoting Hakka as a Common Language

(Central News Agency reporter Kuan Jui-ping, Miaoli County, June 15) — The Hakka Affairs Council today honored outstanding units for their achievements in the 2025 'Promoting Hakka as a Common Language' and Local Hakka Development Program. Miaoli County was the only municipality to receive an 'Outstanding' rating for its implementation effectiveness. Deputy County Magistrate Chiu Li-li accepted the award on behalf of Miaoli, emphasizing that integrating language into daily life means 'every time someone speaks, the language gains a chance to survive.'

The award ceremony was held at the Taiwan Hakka Culture Hall in Tongluo, Miaoli, where Hakka Affairs Council Chairperson Ku Hsiu-fei publicly recognized award-winning county and city governments, township offices, and outstanding local Hakka development units.

In the 'Promoting Hakka as a Common Language' category, the Council stated that among county-level governments, Miaoli County achieved the highest performance in 2025 and was the only one rated 'Outstanding.' Eight other counties and cities — New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County, and Hualien County — received 'Commendable' ratings.

Notably, Miaoli County had the highest proportion of civil servants who passed the Hakka language proficiency certification among all evaluated counties. This rate also best matched the local Hakka population ratio. Furthermore, Miaoli has actively cultivated a daily-life-friendly Hakka language environment by promoting Hakka usage in medical institutions, market vendors, and accommodation services within its jurisdiction.

Deputy County Magistrate Chiu Li-li, representing Miaoli, said the county government continues to promote the integration of Hakka into everyday life, encouraging more people to speak and use Hakka at home, in schools, and in public spaces. 'Language isn’t something you’re born with — it’s about opportunity. As long as someone is willing to speak, Hakka will continue to exist,' she said. Moving forward, the county will continue collaborating with the Hakka Affairs Council and local partners to foster pride in Hakka identity and language, making Hakka a true part of daily life. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150615