Yang Wen-ke on Delegating Suspension Decisions: Disaster Reports Vary by Location, and Residents Are Already Out

Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke has defended his decision to delegate the authority for suspending work and classes during typhoons to local townships, asserting it was a measure to facilitate swift, localized disaster response. Yang faced criticism, with opponents accusing him of shirking responsibility by passing the decision-making power down. He expressed regret over these accusations, stating that those attacking him are unfairly exploiting the situation.

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Those who attack me with this are picking up a gun and shooting wildly; it is immoral.

Yang explained that at the time of the decision, reports from different townships varied significantly. While areas like Hukou reported flooding, the initial report from Zhubei indicated only traffic congestion. Considering that many residents had already left for work and school, Yang opted to delegate the decision, prioritizing safety and aiming to avoid unnecessary disruption to daily routines if conditions allowed.

Despite the county government typically considering a "common living circle" when deciding on suspensions, Yang admitted this approach was not strictly followed this time. He cited the late receipt of disaster reports and the fact that residents were already out as reasons for the deviation. He emphasized that his primary concern was to allow local leaders to make informed decisions based on their specific circumstances while ensuring overall safety and efficient disaster relief efforts.

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Because the disaster report from Zhubei at the first time was only 'traffic jams,' while other townships like Hukou had already reported flooding.

Yang acknowledged the criticism but maintained he acted in good faith, prioritizing the well-being of the county's residents. He stressed that the immediate focus should be on recovery efforts, believing that the truth and fairness of his actions would eventually be recognized.

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Considering everyone had already gone to work and school, if it was safe, 'then don't act rashly,' which is why I delegated the decision-making power.