Accompanied by senior officials of the county government at a press conference, Kuang extended her apology to Taitung residents again for being absent as the typhoon hit the island last week.

Kuang also stressed that she did not violate regulations when using public funds for overseas visits.

Kuang said she took eight overseas trips to visit several nations to observe strategies for tourism promotion and infrastructure development.

She spent a total of NT$865,814 out of her own pocket during the trips.

Kuang met the media after making a visit to local prosecutors office after learning that she has come under investigation for possible irregularities when taking the overseas trips.

She did not reveal contents of talk with prosecutors.

But she stressed that she has always been working hard to help boost the development of Taitung, a southeastern coastal county with little resources for development.

Kuang said he learned a lot during the 13-day journey in Europe, including enhancing ties with sister cities, harnessing solar energy, promotion of tourism, and the development of agricultural and high-tech industries.

Up to voters

When asked why she brought her mother along on the latest trip to Europe, Kuang explained that her mother has been helping her to take care of her children and it would be good for the mother to see and learn more abroad when educating the children.

As for whether she will run for reelection, Kuang said she will leave this issue in the hands of voters in the county.

There was a group of residents from various townships assembled at the press conference to show their support for Kuang.

Kuang confirmed that she will go to Taipei soon to meet with senior leaders of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT), of which she is a party member, to give a report. KMT leaders were concerned that Kuang's absence during a typhoon could undermine the public service image of the party and threaten the party's chances of winning the next county chief election.

The Control Yuan, the nation's highest watchdog agency supervising the performance of government agencies and public servants, decided to conduct a probe into the rampant junket tours taken by Taiwan administrators and elected officials who may abuse taxpayer-funded trips overseas.

The case involving Kuang could be at the top of the list in view of its significant publicity in local media.

Media here also widely reported that there are many other elected officials who actually took more overseas journeys than Kuang did.

' Joining the world'

But Prof. Charles H.C. Kao, a founder of the CommonWealth Group and the Global Views monthly, came to the defense of some officials.

Kao said Hsinchu Mayor Lin Jung-tzer's overseas have markedly helped him improve his performance in administration and public service.

The mayor has made 17 such visits over the past two years, the highest among elected officials, according to the counts of media.

With well planning, visits abroad can help local people and the whole nation to effectively "join the world," Kao said.

He made the remarks on Monday as he honored Lin for ranking first in three categories -- approval rating, contributions to the local economy and pride of residents of their city or country -- in a competitiveness survey conducted by the Global View magazine of Taiwan's 25 cities and counties in 2008.

Kao said that in the overall performance of the city and county chief survey, Lin was first, followed by Taichung Mayor Jason Hu, and Taoyuan Magistrate Eric Liluan Chu.

Lin for his part said he has learned a great deal as a result of his overseas visits, citing a series of concrete examples.

He noted that "a lot of time can be shortened if we learn directly from other countries."