MOI OKs three special municipality applications

Minister Liao convened the reviewing meetings on seven similar applications from 11 local governments from yesterday morning. Liao said the decisions of the panel of officials and experts would turn a new page on Taiwan's development.

The critical issue is how to boost Taiwan's international competitiveness through the restructuring of central government functions and rezoning of administrative areas, he stressed.

Following prolonged discussions, the panel unanimously approved the applications from Taipei County in northern Taiwan, Taichung City/County in the central part of the island, and Kaohsiung City/County in the south. Kaohsiung County will be merged into Kaohsiung City which is already a special municipality like Taipei City.

The decision incidentally conformed with President Ma Ying-jeou's election campaign promises to establish “three major municipalities and 15 counties” for better administrative efficiency and more balanced development in Taiwan. But Liao also announced that in view of the failure to reach a consensus concerning the application from Tainan City/County, the MOI will leave the issue to the Executive Yuan (Cabinet) for a final decision.

The Cabinet is scheduled to review and approve within two weeks the recommendation from the MOI.

Su Jun-pin, chief of the Government Information Office (GIO) and Cabinet spokesman, said the Cabinet will take action after receiving formal suggestions from the MOI.

He said the Cabinet respects the decision and recommendation by the MOI and the reviewing committee it formed.

A final decision by the Cabinet will be made in one or two weeks' time, unless there are severe controversies or flaws in the recommendation, Su said.

The local-level governments that failed to win approval in their applications included Taoyuan County, Changhua County, and the pair of Yunlin County and Chiayi County.

Special municipalities fall under the direct jurisdiction of the central government and are entitled to a bigger share of fund allocations than other local governments.

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