TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Vice President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) took employees of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on a trip to Hualien County to boost the economy of the earthquake-hit region, reports said Wednesday (May 15).
The magnitude 7.2 tremor that struck Hualien on April 3 caused widespread damage to roads and buildings, including hotels, in the mountainous region known as a popular tourism destination.
To help the country recover, Hsiao took staff from the DPP headquarters in Taipei City on a visit to Hualien May 13-14, per Radio Taiwan International (RTI). She served as DPP lawmaker for Hualien County from 2016 to 2020.
The itinerary included bicycle rides, an electric boat trip on a lake, and introductions to Indigenous traditions and sustainable fishing. Hsiao also took the group to the Manor House in Hualien City, a residence for military officers from the Japanese colonial era (1895-1945), which was restored through her efforts.
President-elect and DPP Chair Lai Ching-te (賴清德) also ordered local delicacies and souvenirs to distribute among party staff and volunteers and help boost spending in Hualien, the report said.