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COMPASS MAGAZINE, March 1999. VOL. 6 ISSUE 3

Cover Story Page Two:

Tough love for Taichung A close-up interview with Taichung Mayor Chang Wen-ying by Douglas Habecker Photo: Nicholas Cupaiuolo

COMPASS: What are your goals for the new year?
CHANG: This year, there are a lot of development projects underway in the city. Taichung has many beautiful canals and we are working to create green parkways along these canals and along both sides of the city's railroad lines, in coordination with our efforts to tear down illegal construction around the city. We are also preparing for the construction of the high-speed railroad, which will shorten travel time between Taichung and Taipei to 30 minutes. The canals are much cleaner now than they were a year ago. Treatment of sewage is now 30 times greater than it was before and we are now completing underground sewage system lines for waste water. In the seventh redevelopment zone, there will be the new city administrative center, a concert hall, a large-scale sports stadium and we are clearing areas to hold special activities and exhibitions. Then there's the new Nantun Freeway interchange which will be connected to Shih Cheng Road this year.

COMPASS: What are key policies in your administration?
CHANG: We have budgeted to improve education. We're upgrading children's playgrounds and buying more screens to keep mosquitos out of schools. Because 60 percent of school children don't know how to brush their teeth properly, we will be inviting dentists and doctors to give health checkups, teach the basics of good health and give flouride treatment to students. We would also like to let older teachers retire so that new, younger teachers can get into the schools and help upgrade education. There are three new private high schools in Nantun, Hsitun and North districts and more public kindergartens are being built. We are also organizing public health seminars for women, who are highest risk from lung cancer, due to cooking smoke and second-hand smoke.

COMPASS: Have there been any difficulties for you because of your political party?
CHANG: It hasn't been that bad. Everyone who works around me here is with the KMT.

COMPASS: Do you have any suggestions for women interested in politics?
CHANG: You have to know yourself and expect problems from your family. If you want to have a career, it is best that you get your family affairs in order first. This is true not only for politics, but for working women in any field.

COMPASS: What about economic development in Taichung?
CHANG: Taichung has a lot of spare land and we would like to develop areas for various industries in science-related areas, software, biochemistry and machinery. The machinery industry is especially important to Taichung, which has 50 percent of Taiwan's machinery companies. The aerospace park is to be located in Taichung county, while the Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation is in Taichung City, so we are looking into how to coordinate this. If there are direct links with China in the future, shipping will be able to come directly to Taichung Port, so we should be thinking about what kinds of business opportunities this can bring to the city. The city has a lot of universities, colleges, trade schools, medical colleges and other schools and we are working to try and keep these people here.

COMPASS: How do you balance your family with your job?
CHANG: I don't like people to disturb me between 7 and 8 am because that's when I'm getting my kids ready for school, getting them dressed and everything. In the evening between 9 and 10 pm, I put them to bed so I hurry home at 8:30. Then, afterwards, I go out and take care of more business.

COMPASS: What are your hopes for your children?
CHANG: Just that they're healthy. That they have a positive attitude towards life and have good relations with those around them.

COMPASS: How do you relax?
CHANG: I relax with my children by watching TV and telling them stories. It's not easy to find time. Saturdays and Sundays are very busy with lots of activities. Sometimes, we take the kids along in the car -- they want to see what work their mother does.

COMPASS: Would you like to continue in politics after your current term?
CHANG: It's very difficult to plan ahead what I'll be doing after four years. What is sure is that I'll finish my term and, afterwards, I'll think about it.

COMPASS: What are Taichung citizens most concerned about?
CHANG: Our surveys show that Taichung people are most concerned about traffic, security and the environment. So, we are planning more parking areas and better traffic control systems. We would like to improve the flow of traffic between places like Tantzu and Taichung and Changhua and Taichung.

COMPASS: What are your plans for internationalizing Taichung?
CHANG: This is an important national government policy issue because this island is very small. The island is working to promote its technological development and other areas like cross-Straits trade. Of course, [the city government] is also working in this direction. The central government must deal with trade issues and related issues.

NOTE: This interview has been edited and consolidated for space restrictions.

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