The Executive Yuan today released the names of the 27 members of its first-term youth advisory group.
The group comprises 18 men and nine women. The average age of the advisors is 27.
The names of the 27 members are as follows: Ryan Chang, Chang Shao-an, Chang Yu-ting, Chao Shih-lung, Chen Sheng-kai, Chen Shih-yun, Sega Cheng, Chung Chang-hung, Ho Pei-chun, Hsu Yu-jen, Hu Ting-shuo, Jan I-chien, Lee Wei-kuo, Lin Chien-yu, Lin Li-chan, Light Lin, Liu Yu-cheng, Lu Kuan-wei, Peng Yen-han, Tsai Chang-hung, Tsai Wei-lin, Tseng Kuang-chih, Wang Chih-ling, Wang Chun-ling, Wang Wei-fan, Wu Kai and Yang Cheng-yu.
Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun pointed out that 248 youths (197 men and 51 women) applied online to join the group, with 240 meeting the qualifications and passing the preliminary review. During the second review, the 12-member selection committee nominated 66 candidates for the final review, which was presided over by Premier Jiang Yi-huah.
Throughout the stringent three-stage review, the selection committee pored over the applications one by one and took into consideration such factors as gender balance, occupations, areas of expertise and regional representation.
Originally, the committee was to choose 19 to 25 members, but because of the youths' outstanding performances, it was hard for the selection committee not to include more members. Finally, under the strong and unanimous recommendations of the six committee members from the private sector, the Executive Yuan decided to take in 27.
After reviewing the films and articles included in the applications, the selection committee stated that they found the new generation to be very creative individuals who have their own unique perspectives on major policies and issues and who do not hesitate to share their views with others.
President Ma Ying-jeou announced in his May 20, 2014 speech commemorating the sixth anniversary of his inauguration that the Executive Yuan would set up a youth advisory group for young people to provide suggestions to the government, the spokesperson noted.
To ensure pluralism and fairness, the selection committee consisted of six members from the government and six from the private sector. The private-sector representatives were Sophia Tong, chief executive officer of Test Rite Group; Chu Ping, founder of the Canmeng, Canbran and Canlove salon products and restaurant group; Tom Wang, founder of Dream School; Zoe Ni, radio and television program host; Lin Yi-ying, chief executive officer of Hondao Senior Citizen's Welfare Foundation; and Yeh Ping-cheng, associate professor of electrical engineering at National Taiwan University.
The public-sector members were Minister of Education Chiang Wei-ling, Council of Agriculture Minister Chen Bao-ji, Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi, ministers without portfolio Feng Yen and Tsai Yu-ling, as well as Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun.
The youth advisory group will hold its first meeting later this month and convene every three months thereafter. Panel meetings on particular subjects will also be convened whenever necessary.
The premier expects the advisory group to serve as a bridge for communication between the government and youth, provide consultation and recommendations, demonstrate democratic literacy and rational debate, proactively participate in meeting discussions, voice the thoughts and aspirations of youth regarding current affairs so that young people's opinions to government agencies can be directly communicated, and help the government's administration better meet the needs of the next generation.
The spokesperson thanked all who enthusiastically participated in the very active registration period. "Unfortunately, the committee had to pass over some excellent candidates, but the youth's zeal is commendable," he stated. If agencies hold any related events in the future, they will invite the applicants to take part in order to enhance young people's understanding of national policies and hear the full range of their opinions, Sun pledged.