4 new special municipalities to be created

The MOI also announced a plan to slash the number of townships and administrative districts in the four new special municipalities by more than half from the existing 368 for more balanced regional development.

Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said preparatory work for the administrative reorganization will begin immediately to make sure the restructuring can be completed by Dec. 25, 2010.

The plan will involve upgrading Taipei County, merging Kaohsiung County into Kaohsiung City, which is already a special municipality; integrating Taichung County and Taichung City, and combining Tainan County and Tainan City.

According to Liu, the government's new homeland development planning is designed to build three major metropolises -- located respectively in the northern, central and southern districts of Taiwan -- to promote the overall development of communities in the respective areas and narrow development gaps.

To facilitate regional development, Liu said the government will promote cooperation among the existing cities and counties by grouping them into seven larger regions: Taipei City/County, Keelung City and Yilan County; Taoyuan, Hsinchu and Miaoli counties; Taichung, Changhua and Nantou counties; Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan counties; Kaohsiung City/County and Pingtung County; Hualien and Taitung counties; and offshore islands of Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu scattered throughout the Taiwan Strait.

Liu also pledged that the government will strengthen its implementation of the statute governing the development of offshore islands and enact a new law to guide the development of the eastern region of the country.

He said new legislative bills will also be introduced to help preserve and develop the cultures of indigenous peoples, whose ancestors were original residents of Taiwan.

These changes will show the public that the government attaches equal importance to the development of the northern, central and southern regions, and pays equal attention to enhancing Taiwan's international competitiveness and balancing regional development, the premier said.

All the benefits will be shared by all people in all areas, rather than being limited to cities and counties with upgraded status, he stressed.

Interior Minister Liao Liou-yi also announced a plan to consolidate the number of townships and districts in the four new special municipalities to between 100 and 150 from the current 368, which are of various sizes.

This will be among the major tasks to be carried out by the mayors to be selected in the new election, Liao said.

The Examination Yuan, which supervises the recruiting of qualified public servants, estimated there will be an increase of more than 22,000 new government employees following the upgrading to the status of special municipalities.

The allocation of the new positions will be decided by the population in each special municipality, officials said.

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