Ko Wen-je Says Over-65s Can't Be City Advisors; Chiang Wan-an Responds

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an has indicated his openness to appointing individuals over 65 as city advisors, provided that central government regulations are amended to allow for such positions. The statement follows comments made by Ko Wen-je, former chairman of the Taiwan People's Party, who noted that his own age of over 65 would disqualify him from serving as a city advisor under current rules.

Ko Wen-je made these remarks on June 23rd while attending a book launch event for Wu Chun-cheng's "The Ideal Nation for the Strong Generation." The event focused on policies related to the "strong generation," economic development, and spatial planning. During a press conference, Ko humorously mentioned needing to find additional work due to high legal fees, only to discover that even city government advisor roles have age limits that exclude him.

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If the central government can fully discuss and amend the law, then I would naturally be happy to welcome it.

Responding to Ko's comments, Mayor Chiang Wan-an stated that he would "happily welcome" such appointments if the central government fully discusses and amends the relevant laws. This suggests a willingness from the Taipei city government to consider older, experienced individuals for advisory roles, contingent on regulatory changes.

The discussion around age restrictions for advisory roles highlights ongoing conversations about the role and inclusion of older citizens in public service and policy-making, particularly within the context of Taiwan's demographic shifts and the "strong generation" discourse.

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I should find another job, but I am limited by age. For example, if Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an wanted to hire me as an advisor, I would not be qualified because I am over 65.