Councilor Mentions End of Term; Hsieh Kuo-liang Rebuts: Will Continue to Face Interpellations
Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang expressed his disagreement with a city councilor's remark that his term might be the last, following criticism over the city's NT$50 million budget for double-decker tourist buses. Mayor Hsieh stated he would strive to continue facing interpellations next year, positioning the tourist buses as tourism infrastructure.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 23:21
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 23:32 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 14, 2026 at 03:53 (4h 21m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Wang Chao-yu, Keelung, 13th) The Keelung City Government has allocated an additional budget of NT$50 million for the purchase of double-decker tourist buses. Today, a city councilor pointed out that it might be Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang's last year in office, in his fourth year, and he still doesn't know the priorities for budget allocation. Hsieh Kuo-liang said he felt a bit unconvinced and would strive to continue facing interpellations next year.
The Keelung City Council held its regular meeting today. Democratic Progressive Party city councilor Chang Hao-han pointed out that this regular meeting would review the city government's supplementary budget. Hsieh Kuo-liang mentioned in his response yesterday that every penny must be spent wisely, but the tourist buses that started operating in April have not shown concrete results. Given the city's financial constraints, why did the Department of Transportation allocate a NT$50 million budget to subsidize the public bus department for purchasing double-decker tourist buses?
Chang Hao-han stated that the city government is not meeting citizens' needs, such as the reconstruction of Dongxin Elementary School, improvement of police and fire department office spaces, and contracted public childcare fees, but instead spends money on purchasing double-decker tourist buses. He questioned why, in Hsieh Kuo-liang's fourth and possibly last year in office, he still doesn't understand the priorities of budget allocation. Is a double-decker tourist bus more urgent than elementary school reconstruction?
In his response, Hsieh Kuo-liang cited examples of roads, traffic lights, and guardrails, which do not generate economic benefits but are essential basic needs for a stable city. He positioned the double-decker tourist buses and amphibious tourist buses as tourism infrastructure.
Hsieh Kuo-liang said he is concerned about the significant decrease in estimated revenue after the amendment of the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, and therefore, budget allocations for various departments are subject to overall control adjustments. Chang Hao-han's prediction that he might not be re-elected made him feel a little unconvinced, and he vowed to work hard to ensure he can still face interpellations from councilors in the assembly next year. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150513
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(CNA Reporter Wang Chao-yu, Keelung, 13th) The Keelung City Government has allocated an additional budget of NT$50 million for the purchase of double-decker tourist buses. Today, a city councilor pointed out that it might be Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang's last year in office, in his fourth year, and he still doesn't know the priorities for budget allocation. Hsieh Kuo-liang said he felt a bit unconvinced and would strive to continue facing interpellations next year.
The Keelung City Council held its regular meeting today. Democratic Progressive Party city councilor Chang Hao-han pointed out that this regular meeting would review the city government's supplementary budget. Hsieh Kuo-liang mentioned in his response yesterday that every penny must be spent wisely, but the tourist buses that started operating in April have not shown concrete results. Given the city's financial constraints, why did the Department of Transportation allocate a NT$50 million budget to subsidize the public bus department for purchasing double-decker tourist buses?
Chang Hao-han stated that the city government is not meeting citizens' needs, such as the reconstruction of Dongxin Elementary School, improvement of police and fire department office spaces, and contracted public childcare fees, but instead spends money on purchasing double-decker tourist buses. He questioned why, in Hsieh Kuo-liang's fourth and possibly last year in office, he still doesn't understand the priorities of budget allocation. Is a double-decker tourist bus more urgent than elementary school reconstruction?
In his response, Hsieh Kuo-liang cited examples of roads, traffic lights, and guardrails, which do not generate economic benefits but are essential basic needs for a stable city. He positioned the double-decker tourist buses and amphibious tourist buses as tourism infrastructure.
Hsieh Kuo-liang said he is concerned about the significant decrease in estimated revenue after the amendment of the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures, and therefore, budget allocations for various departments are subject to overall control adjustments. Chang Hao-han's prediction that he might not be re-elected made him feel a little unconvinced, and he vowed to work hard to ensure he can still face interpellations from councilors in the assembly next year. (Edited by Lin Shu-hui) 1150513
Stand with facts, your sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.