Unboxing Old Photos: The Hsichih Oriental Science Park Fire Accelerates the Collapse of Chen You-hao's Corporate Empire
The fire at Hsichih's "Oriental Science Park" on May 12, 2001, which burned for about 43 hours and caused over NT$13 billion in damages, accelerated the downfall of Tuntex Group Chairman Chen You-hao's corporate empire. Due to mismanagement and alleged illicit activities, Chen You-hao fled to China the following year, leaving behind over NT$70 billion in debt. In 2024, his Taiwanese household registration was revoked after it was found he had household registration in China.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 21:45
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 08:31 (10h 46m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 13, 2026 at 08:43 (11 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency website) In the early morning of May 12, 2001, a fire broke out in the skyscraper of Hsichih's "Oriental Science Park." Due to the chimney effect, the fire spread for approximately 43 hours, setting a record for the longest burning single building fire in Taiwan. The headquarters of more than ten listed companies were destroyed, with total losses amounting to over NT$13 billion.
Chen You-hao, then chairman of the Tuntex Group, rushed to the scene after returning to Taiwan on May 13. Facing the destruction of his life's work, his glasses were clouded with tears and rain.
The "Oriental Science Park" was a large-scale construction project started by Chen You-hao in 1990. After its completion in 1994, the Tuntex Group also moved its headquarters there in 1995.
Chen You-hao started in the textile industry and later diversified into real estate, cement, petrochemicals, telecommunications, and other industries. The Tuntex Group once soared to become one of Taiwan's top 15 enterprises, and Chen You-hao became a prominent figure with strong political and business connections.
However, the Tuntex Group later expanded too rapidly and suffered from poor management. Chen You-hao became involved in multiple corruption cases and asset stripping schemes. The year after the "Oriental Science Park" fire (2002), he and his wife Lin Fu-mei successively fled to China, leaving behind over NT$70 billion in debt in Taiwan. Chen You-hao was listed as one of the top ten most-wanted fugitives and had been in mainland China for many years.
In 2024, the Mainland Affairs Council announced that after investigation, Chen You-hao was found to have household registration in China, and the Ministry of the Interior revoked his Taiwanese household registration according to law.
To see more photos of Chen You-hao, visit the Central News Agency Image Gallery immediately. 1150512
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(Central News Agency website) In the early morning of May 12, 2001, a fire broke out in the skyscraper of Hsichih's "Oriental Science Park." Due to the chimney effect, the fire spread for approximately 43 hours, setting a record for the longest burning single building fire in Taiwan. The headquarters of more than ten listed companies were destroyed, with total losses amounting to over NT$13 billion.
Chen You-hao, then chairman of the Tuntex Group, rushed to the scene after returning to Taiwan on May 13. Facing the destruction of his life's work, his glasses were clouded with tears and rain.
The "Oriental Science Park" was a large-scale construction project started by Chen You-hao in 1990. After its completion in 1994, the Tuntex Group also moved its headquarters there in 1995.
Chen You-hao started in the textile industry and later diversified into real estate, cement, petrochemicals, telecommunications, and other industries. The Tuntex Group once soared to become one of Taiwan's top 15 enterprises, and Chen You-hao became a prominent figure with strong political and business connections.
However, the Tuntex Group later expanded too rapidly and suffered from poor management. Chen You-hao became involved in multiple corruption cases and asset stripping schemes. The year after the "Oriental Science Park" fire (2002), he and his wife Lin Fu-mei successively fled to China, leaving behind over NT$70 billion in debt in Taiwan. Chen You-hao was listed as one of the top ten most-wanted fugitives and had been in mainland China for many years.
In 2024, the Mainland Affairs Council announced that after investigation, Chen You-hao was found to have household registration in China, and the Ministry of the Interior revoked his Taiwanese household registration according to law.
To see more photos of Chen You-hao, visit the Central News Agency Image Gallery immediately. 1150512
Choose to stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.