The Executive Yuan Council today greenlighted a proposal to upgrade Taoyuan County into a special municipality. The administrative upgrade, set to become effective December 25, 2014, is expected to promote economic growth in northern Taiwan and balance urban-rural development.
Premier Sean Chen noted this move would make Taoyuan a bellwether of development in the Taoyuan-Hsinchu-Miaoli area, consolidating the region's technological advantages and Hakka cultural attractions. Major projects such as the Taoyuan Aerotropolis will also boost local infrastructure. In the pursuit of global competitiveness, he said, Taiwan must be mindful of balancing growth among its various regions as well.
The premier also broached technical matters associated with the transition, such as cooperation between central and local governments and granting more power and revenues to Taoyuan. He asked the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) to begin preparations with the appropriate agencies, including the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, which is in charge of government restructuring; the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, both of which specialize in tax revenue distribution; as well as the Environmental Protection Administration and the Council of Agriculture, responsible for environmental impact assessments.
Chen said the agencies should report major bottlenecks or necessary legal changes to the Executive Yuan, which will set up a task force led by a minister without portfolio if needed. As for details such as organizational restructuring, finance and budget allocation, asset disposal, work redistribution, protection of employee rights and handling of files, the agencies should follow the examples set in the 2010 upgrade of other locales to special municipalities.
Regarding concerns that Taoyuan's indigenous communities would lose some of their autonomy, the premier again emphasized that the rights of these residents will be safeguarded in the process. Taoyuan County has already created a special division devoted to their economic development. Local district offices in indigenous communities will also be granted more administrative power to make major decisions. Chen asked the MOI and the Council of Indigenous Peoples to assist Taoyuan County with these issues and better communicate to the public the means of ensuring indigenous people's rights.