Huang Min-hui's absence from city council regular session due to overseas trip sparks controversy; Chiayi City Gov: Will strengthen communication
Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui drew criticism from the city council for missing its opening session and her policy report to attend a food expo in Singapore. The city government promised to improve communication.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 16:46
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 17:01 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 05:08 (12h 6m after Collected)
Chiayi City, April 21 (CNA) -- Chiayi Mayor Huang Min-hui led local businesses to participate in a food exhibition in Singapore yesterday, sparking controversy for missing the opening of the city council's regular session and the policy report. The city council issued a statement today stressing that the leave of the administrative head must adhere to legal regulations. The city government responded that it will strengthen communication.
Huang departed for Singapore yesterday and attended an international food expo there today alongside Chiayi business representatives. Consequently, she missed the city council's opening yesterday and the policy report originally scheduled for today, which drew questions from several councilors. The policy report has been rescheduled to the 28th.
In response to the controversy over Huang's absence, the Chiayi City Council issued a statement today pointing out that Huang and certain department heads failed to follow legal procedures for taking leave, misleading the public regarding the scheduling of the agenda. The statement was specifically issued to clarify the situation.
The statement noted that the dates for the 7th regular session of the 11th City Council—from yesterday until May 19—were notified to the city government as early as December 11 of last year. A subsequent notice regarding agenda revisions was sent on January 7 this year, with the meeting dates remaining unchanged.
The city council stated that, in consideration of the city government's municipal needs, it always schedules the following year's agenda at the end of the previous year and informs all parties. It has even flexibly adjusted agendas on multiple occasions to accommodate major city events, all based on the conventions of "prior communication" and "mutual respect."
However, the council argued that the leave process of Huang and the directors of the Construction and Land Administration Departments completely ignored the tacit understanding and past interactions between the government and the council. Bypassing regulations without adequate coordination caused operational difficulties and embarrassment for the council, and the city government's actions undermined the long-established foundation of trust.
The city council emphasized that the administrative head's attendance to report and accept interpolations at the council is a basic requirement of political accountability. The council is not a rubber stamp for the city government, and all leave matters must be handled according to the law.
In response, the Chiayi City Government stated that Huang led local businesses to the international food expo in Singapore because Singapore is an important financial and commercial hub in Asia, which can help businesses expand into overseas markets. Furthermore, in recent years, Singaporean tourists have ranked highest among foreign visitors to Chiayi City.
The city government noted that the dates for the Singapore food expo were fixed long ago, and the city arranged the trip according to the exhibition dates. The city government promised to strengthen communication in the future.
Huang departed for Singapore yesterday and attended an international food expo there today alongside Chiayi business representatives. Consequently, she missed the city council's opening yesterday and the policy report originally scheduled for today, which drew questions from several councilors. The policy report has been rescheduled to the 28th.
In response to the controversy over Huang's absence, the Chiayi City Council issued a statement today pointing out that Huang and certain department heads failed to follow legal procedures for taking leave, misleading the public regarding the scheduling of the agenda. The statement was specifically issued to clarify the situation.
The statement noted that the dates for the 7th regular session of the 11th City Council—from yesterday until May 19—were notified to the city government as early as December 11 of last year. A subsequent notice regarding agenda revisions was sent on January 7 this year, with the meeting dates remaining unchanged.
The city council stated that, in consideration of the city government's municipal needs, it always schedules the following year's agenda at the end of the previous year and informs all parties. It has even flexibly adjusted agendas on multiple occasions to accommodate major city events, all based on the conventions of "prior communication" and "mutual respect."
However, the council argued that the leave process of Huang and the directors of the Construction and Land Administration Departments completely ignored the tacit understanding and past interactions between the government and the council. Bypassing regulations without adequate coordination caused operational difficulties and embarrassment for the council, and the city government's actions undermined the long-established foundation of trust.
The city council emphasized that the administrative head's attendance to report and accept interpolations at the council is a basic requirement of political accountability. The council is not a rubber stamp for the city government, and all leave matters must be handled according to the law.
In response, the Chiayi City Government stated that Huang led local businesses to the international food expo in Singapore because Singapore is an important financial and commercial hub in Asia, which can help businesses expand into overseas markets. Furthermore, in recent years, Singaporean tourists have ranked highest among foreign visitors to Chiayi City.
The city government noted that the dates for the Singapore food expo were fixed long ago, and the city arranged the trip according to the exhibition dates. The city government promised to strengthen communication in the future.