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Xinfeng Residents Vow 'Opposition to the End' Over Suspected Funeral Home Construction

From Liberty Times · (12m ago) Chinese Critical tone

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Residents and local officials in Xinfeng Township, Hsinchu County, are opposing the construction of a facility near the fourth public cemetery, suspecting it is intended as a funeral home despite being permitted as a factory warehouse.
  • Local representatives have petitioned the county government, demanding strict oversight and enforcement against any potential misuse of the land for funeral services.
  • County officials have assured that permits are for factory warehouses only and vowed to penalize any violations, including cutting off utilities and revoking licenses, if the facility is used for funeral purposes.

Residents of Xinfeng Township in Hsinchu County are standing united against a controversial development project slated for an area near the fourth public cemetery. While the developer secured a permit to build a factory warehouse, local whispers and the developer's own fundraising claims suggest a more somber purpose: a funeral home.

The Civil Affairs Department will continuously fine and request the Department of Urban Development to cut off water and electricity and revoke the factory use permit if the operator illegally changes the use.

— Chen Jian-chunHsinchu County Civil Affairs Director Chen Jian-chun explaining the penalties for violating land use regulations.

This has ignited a firestorm of opposition, transcending party lines. Local leaders, including Township Mayor Huang Zheng-biao and County Councilor Chen Xing-hong, have joined forces with numerous township representatives to petition the Hsinchu County government. Their demand is clear: ensure the land is used strictly for its permitted purpose and prevent the establishment of any funeral-related facilities.

County officials have responded with assurances. The Department of Urban Development emphasized that the permit is exclusively for a factory warehouse and that any attempt to change its use to a funeral facility will be denied. The Agriculture Department pledged to increase on-site inspections to detect and penalize any violations. The Civil Affairs Department stated that while they cannot act without concrete evidence of funeral facilities, they will impose continuous fines and work with other departments to cut off utilities and revoke licenses if the developer illegally alters the facility's use.

I will stand in the County Council and oppose it to the end with the townspeople.

— Chen Xing-hongCounty Councilor Chen Xing-hong expressing his commitment to opposing the project.

One township representative, a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, has even launched a petition drive, arguing that Xinfeng, being close to other towns with existing funeral services, does not need such a facility. This united front highlights a strong local sentiment to preserve the community's character and address residents' anxieties head-on. The focus remains on strict adherence to regulations and preventing any deviation from the approved land use, ensuring the community's concerns are heard and addressed.

This 'factory' is planned for a hillside near the fourth public cemetery in the township, covering about 530 ping. Although it applied to build a factory warehouse, the reason the townspeople are uneasy is because the developer publicly claimed last year when raising funds that it was for funeral services.

— Huang Zheng-biaoTownship Mayor Huang Zheng-biao explaining the source of local anxiety regarding the development.
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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