In His Final Policy Address, Kaohsiung Mayor Opens With Extreme Weather

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai opened his final policy address with extreme weather and urban resilience, putting rainfall and drainage ahead of industry and transport.

Chen appeared before the Kaohsiung City Council for the last policy report of his mayoral term. He first thanked council members for six years of support in developing the city, then turned to “extreme weather and a resilient city.”

The address had originally been scheduled for the previous Monday but was delayed after the August 22 superstorm brought several days of heavy rain to Kaohsiung. The city government suspended work and classes, while the council adjusted its agenda in response to the disaster.

Heavy rain returned early on the day of the rescheduled address, but the meeting proceeded. Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng opened the session at 9:31 a.m., after which Chen delivered his report.

The choice of opening topic contrasted with the issues most associated with Chen’s administration, including semiconductor-led industrial transformation, the concert economy and rail construction. The focus on rainfall and drainage reviews presented a practical approach to the city’s immediate weather risks.