New Taichung City Government offers upgraded services, same tel. number, new service centers

Text and photos by Taichung City Government
Translated by Angel Pu

Taichung city and county officially merged into a single Taichung special municipality on Dec. 25. Following this landmark restructuring, there are now 27 first-level city government agencies, whose offices are also being relocated at government centers around the city, including the new Taichung City Hall building, the former Taichung County Hall building in Fengyuan district (formerly Fengyuan city) and the old Taichung City Hall.

he former Taichung City Government was located at the old Taichung City Hall until Dec. 24 before starting its move over to the new city hall, where it opened for business from Dec. 27 as the new Taichung special municipality government. In the meantime, all Taichung county agencies began relocating on Dec. 29. The old Taichung City Hall will continue to serve as home to the Environmental Protection Bureau and Department of Urban Development after the merger, and the Department of Transportation will relocate to the new Taichung City Council Building after construction there finishes.

Different extension numbers, new service centers
For the convenience of Taichung residents, the Taichung City Government's main telephone number remains the same: (04) 2228-9111. However, due to the increased number of government agencies and organizations following the city/county merger, extension numbers have changed to five digits instead of four, and old numbers are no longer being used after Dec. 25. After a list of new extension numbers has been checked and approved by the Ministry of Civil Service, it will be sent to district and village offices. Anyone needing extension number information can talk to the city government operator or dial the "1999" service hotline for information. There are also a new city government service centers on the first floors of the new Taichung City Hall, former Taichung County Hall and old Taichung City Hall.

During and following this transition period, 14 agencies are moving into the new city hall building with the remainder located at the old Taichung city and county halls. For greater convenience in outlying parts of the new city, service centers are also being located in mountainous areas, the "Tun" districts and coastal areas of Taichung. Moreover, the Department of Transportation has planned several convenient transit routes for public shuffle buses connecting Fengyuan, Dali and Taiping districts (formerly cities) to downtown Taichung. It is hoped that these express routes will help meet the transportation needs of citizens and government staff working at the new Taichung City Hall building.