Hsinchu County Election Bid: Cheng Chao-fang Aims to Build 'Taiwan's Kyoto'

Hsinchu County Magistrate candidate Cheng Chao-fang, nominated by the Democratic Progressive Party, aims to replicate the innovative and aesthetic successes of Hsinchu City across the entire county. Cheng, currently the mayor of Zhubei City, stated his ambition to transform areas like Guanxi and Xinpu into "Taiwan's Kyoto" by leveraging their natural beauty. He believes Zhubei's demanding populace has honed his team's ability to implement innovation and aesthetics in infrastructure and activities, despite limited resources. Cheng highlighted that Zhubei City Hall's administrative structure and budget are comparable to a typical district office, yet he and his 84 staff members have undertaken significant projects that should fall under county government purview. He suggested that if elected, he would not only elevate Zhubei beyond its current achievements but also bring substantial changes to the county's other 12 townships. Cheng identified shared challenges such as population outflow and growth-related issues in transportation and education in Zhubei, Xinfeng, and Hukou, proposing the creation of integrated living zones to address these problems. For Zhudong, Hengshan, and Qionglin, he plans to revitalize the Zhudong Theater Park, making it as beautiful and romantic as Zhubei's Shidong Park. He also envisions turning Beipu, Emei, and Baoshan into a "Golden Tourist Corridor," serving as the "backyard" for the science park. Addressing the indigenous communities of Jianshi and Wufeng, Cheng invoked the Atayal phrase "Lokah" (meaning 'cheer up' or 'keep going') to emphasize his commitment to them. Recalling his previous bid for county magistrate eight years prior, Cheng mentioned that then-President Tsai Ing-wen had described him as having "no political flavor." He contrasted this with current President Lai Ching-te's similar observation, framing it as a positive "exclamation mark" signifying his potential to help and transform Hsinchu County.

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The citizens of Zhubei are very discerning, and the training I received is absolutely no less than in Taipei City!