Changhua Crematorium Public Hearing Met with Protests, County Government to Establish Supervisory Committee
Hundreds of residents protested against the Changhua County Government's planned Life Memorial Park (including a crematorium) during a public hearing. Residents walked out of the meeting, and the county government stated it would establish a supervisory committee under residents' oversight, but affirmed its intention to proceed with the plan.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 16:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 17:01 (34 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Cheng Wei-chen, Changhua, 5th) The Changhua County Government held a public hearing today for the Changhua Life Memorial Park Development Plan. Hundreds of residents scattered ghost money outside the venue in protest. Less than half an hour into the meeting, residents declared the meeting invalid and left. The county government stated that it will establish a supervisory committee to oversee the operation of the crematorium.
The Changhua County Government plans to build a crematorium at the junction of Fangyuan Township and Erlin Township, placing a funeral home, ceremonial halls, and the crematorium in the same area, which has caused dissatisfaction among some residents of Erlin and Fangyuan townships. The environmental impact assessment for the Changhua Life Memorial Park Development Plan was passed at the end of last year, and the county government held a public hearing this afternoon at Wanggong Fuhai Temple in Fangyuan Township.
Before the public hearing began, the Erlin Fangyuan Anti-Crematorium Self-Help Association and environmental groups gathered outside, holding banners and shouting slogans to express their opposition. The Changhua County Police Department dispatched approximately 520 police officers to maintain order.
"Wrong site selection, and withdrawing the crematorium plan is the only demand," said Yuan Zhen-quan, spokesperson for the Erlin Fangyuan Anti-Crematorium Self-Help Association, in a media interview. He stated that the county government had not communicated properly with local public opinion, and the need to deploy so many police officers for a construction project indicates concerns. Residents do not want such an undesirable facility built here and demanded that County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei leave this major construction decision to the next county magistrate, rather than hastily finalizing it before her term ends.
At the beginning of the public hearing, protesting residents immediately stated that effective communication was not possible and that they could not see the presentation slides clearly, declaring the meeting invalid and leaving. Before leaving, Lin Li-mei, vice president of the Erlin Fangyuan Anti-Crematorium Self-Help Association, went to the stage to hand a petition to county government officials. As no one came forward to accept it, she threw the petition onto the floor.
Liu Yu-ping, Director of the Civil Affairs Department, stated in an interview that the environmental impact assessment for the Changhua Life Memorial Park Development Plan underwent two reviews in August and December last year and was approved. The final environmental impact statement was completed in April this year, and the permit application for the Life Memorial Park has also been submitted to the Ministry of the Interior for review. Today's main purpose was to explain the conclusions of the environmental review committee to the local community, including pollution control, environmental protection countermeasures, and subsequent construction management and monitoring, hoping to gain support from the majority of the public.
Regarding the protesting residents' demand to withdraw the plan, Liu Yu-ping said that since the case has undergone long-term planning and review, the finalization has been completed, and the construction process will be launched subsequently. Related engineering planning and subsequent procurement of incinerators and air pollution control equipment are actively underway, with the hope of completing the construction plan within two years. There is no option to withdraw the plan.
Liu Yu-ping stated that in response to the demands of the environmental review committee members, a Changhua County Life Memorial Park Supervisory Committee will be established. The committee will include local representatives and will hold meetings every six months to oversee the relevant aspects of the crematorium's execution. Crematoriums primarily receive human remains and are different from incinerators; pollution control is within a manageable range, and the impact on the local area is relatively small. (Edited by Chang Ming-kun) 1150505
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(Central News Agency reporter Cheng Wei-chen, Changhua, 5th) The Changhua County Government held a public hearing today for the Changhua Life Memorial Park Development Plan. Hundreds of residents scattered ghost money outside the venue in protest. Less than half an hour into the meeting, residents declared the meeting invalid and left. The county government stated that it will establish a supervisory committee to oversee the operation of the crematorium.
The Changhua County Government plans to build a crematorium at the junction of Fangyuan Township and Erlin Township, placing a funeral home, ceremonial halls, and the crematorium in the same area, which has caused dissatisfaction among some residents of Erlin and Fangyuan townships. The environmental impact assessment for the Changhua Life Memorial Park Development Plan was passed at the end of last year, and the county government held a public hearing this afternoon at Wanggong Fuhai Temple in Fangyuan Township.
Before the public hearing began, the Erlin Fangyuan Anti-Crematorium Self-Help Association and environmental groups gathered outside, holding banners and shouting slogans to express their opposition. The Changhua County Police Department dispatched approximately 520 police officers to maintain order.
"Wrong site selection, and withdrawing the crematorium plan is the only demand," said Yuan Zhen-quan, spokesperson for the Erlin Fangyuan Anti-Crematorium Self-Help Association, in a media interview. He stated that the county government had not communicated properly with local public opinion, and the need to deploy so many police officers for a construction project indicates concerns. Residents do not want such an undesirable facility built here and demanded that County Magistrate Wang Hui-mei leave this major construction decision to the next county magistrate, rather than hastily finalizing it before her term ends.
At the beginning of the public hearing, protesting residents immediately stated that effective communication was not possible and that they could not see the presentation slides clearly, declaring the meeting invalid and leaving. Before leaving, Lin Li-mei, vice president of the Erlin Fangyuan Anti-Crematorium Self-Help Association, went to the stage to hand a petition to county government officials. As no one came forward to accept it, she threw the petition onto the floor.
Liu Yu-ping, Director of the Civil Affairs Department, stated in an interview that the environmental impact assessment for the Changhua Life Memorial Park Development Plan underwent two reviews in August and December last year and was approved. The final environmental impact statement was completed in April this year, and the permit application for the Life Memorial Park has also been submitted to the Ministry of the Interior for review. Today's main purpose was to explain the conclusions of the environmental review committee to the local community, including pollution control, environmental protection countermeasures, and subsequent construction management and monitoring, hoping to gain support from the majority of the public.
Regarding the protesting residents' demand to withdraw the plan, Liu Yu-ping said that since the case has undergone long-term planning and review, the finalization has been completed, and the construction process will be launched subsequently. Related engineering planning and subsequent procurement of incinerators and air pollution control equipment are actively underway, with the hope of completing the construction plan within two years. There is no option to withdraw the plan.
Liu Yu-ping stated that in response to the demands of the environmental review committee members, a Changhua County Life Memorial Park Supervisory Committee will be established. The committee will include local representatives and will hold meetings every six months to oversee the relevant aspects of the crematorium's execution. Crematoriums primarily receive human remains and are different from incinerators; pollution control is within a manageable range, and the impact on the local area is relatively small. (Edited by Chang Ming-kun) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.