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Taiwanese councilors question magistrate's silent Portugal visit after Brazil trip

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Taiwanese council members are questioning Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's 14-day overseas trip, particularly his silence after visiting Portugal.
  • They allege that his trip, which included attending a Hakka event in Brazil, lacked transparency regarding supposed technology and innovation visits in Portugal.
  • The council members demand an explanation from the county government, questioning if the trip was for personal leisure or genuine official business.

Hsinchu County councilor candidates are demanding answers regarding County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's 14-day overseas trip, particularly his lack of public updates since traveling to Portugal. While Yang appeared at the World Hakka Conference in Brazil, his subsequent visit to Portugal has yielded no official news, photos, or press releases concerning the purported technology and startup explorations.

The county government previously announced on its official website on August 14th the news of County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's trip to Brazil to attend the Overseas Taiwanese Hakka Conference, and exchange information on Hsinchu County's promotion of Hakka culture.

— Liberty TimesReporting on the initial announcement of County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's trip.

Candidates Chang Yu-tzu, Li Ya-fen, and Lin Chun-ching are publicly seeking Yang's whereabouts and urging the Hsinchu County government to clarify the purpose of his extensive international travel. They question whether the trip was for personal enjoyment or genuine official business, citing the absence of any evidence for the stated goals of exploring innovation and engaging in city diplomacy.

The World Hakka Conference in Brazil was scheduled from August 7th to 15th, but Yang only departed on August 9th. After the event, he immediately flew halfway across the world to Portugal. This itinerary arrangement completely disregards cost and time considerations.

— Chang Yu-tzuQuestioning the logistical and financial sense of County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's travel schedule.

Chang Yu-tzu pointed out the unusual timing of Yang's departure for Brazil, arriving after the event's start, and his immediate flight to Portugal afterward. She questioned the logic and cost-effectiveness of such a travel itinerary. Li Ya-fen added that as of August 18th, the magistrate's activities in Portugal remain a mystery. She highlighted the lack of any documentation, such as images from startup base visits or records of meetings with Lisbon's municipal government, which contradicts the county's claims of technological and urban diplomacy.

Today is already August 18th, and the magistrate's whereabouts are like he has evaporated from the earth. If he was truly going to investigate the startup industry for Hsinchu County's technological development and for city diplomacy by visiting local governments, why is there absolutely no public information after arriving in Portugal?

— Li Ya-fenExpressing concern over the lack of information regarding County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's activities in Portugal.

Lin Chun-ching called on the Hsinchu County government to provide a clear account of Yang's activities in Portugal and to detail the tangible benefits of this 14-day trip for Hsinchu County's industrial, cultural, educational, or urban development. The candidates stressed that taxpayer money must be scrutinized and that such trips should not be disguised as luxury vacations, asserting the public's right to know the magistrate's actions during his time abroad.

Hsinchu County's citizens have an absolute right to know what Yang Wen-ko, who has disappeared in Portugal, has been doing.

— Lin Chun-chingDemanding accountability and transparency regarding County Magistrate Yang Wen-ko's overseas trip.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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