TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Hualien County officials on Sunday questioned the legal basis for suspending paddle boat operators at Liyu Lake after a swan paddle boat capsized during the Lunar New Year holiday, killing a 9-year-old boy.
CNA reported that the East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Headquarters notified operators on Friday to suspend operations until they obtain operating permits and complete safety inspections. Officials said the order was issued under Article 7 of the Water Recreation Activity Management Regulations due to safety concerns.
Deputy Director Hung Chao-chang (洪肇昌) said the scenic area authority manages Liyu Lake waters and distinguishes between motorized boats and non-motorized ones, such as paddle boats. He added that the capsized swan boat may have had a hole, though prosecutors are still investigating the accident.
Hung said authorities held a meeting on Thursday with the Maritime and Port Bureau, Hualien County officials, and boat operators to discuss safety management and regulatory responsibilities. He said the meeting produced many opinions but no consensus, and a second meeting will be scheduled after the discussion records are organized.
Hung said boats such as swan paddle boats must undergo safety inspections and that checks are typically handled by local governments. He added that some counties have regulations governing small boat operations and the issuance of operating permits.
Hualien County Tourism Department Director Joshua Yu (余明勲) said the Development of Tourism Act states the managing authority of a scenic area should oversee water recreation activities within its jurisdiction. Yu said the county government previously created a standard operating procedure for managing non-motorized boats before national regulations were established, per Liberty Times.
Yu said the procedure had no legal authority and was abolished in June 2025 after national guidelines were introduced. He said the county government currently has no legal basis to conduct such inspections and that the scenic area authority should establish clear regulations rather than shift responsibility to the county.
Yu also questioned the sudden suspension order issued without a clear legal foundation and raised concerns about its impact on operators’ livelihoods. He said if authorities require businesses to obtain operating permits, they should first clarify the legal basis for issuing those permits.
Local boat operators said the suspension prevents them from making any money. Lin Ying-yu (林盈裕), chair of the Liyu Lake commercial district association, said the government should quickly resolve the issue so operators can resume business and support the area’s tourism industry.
The scenic area authority said businesses around Liyu Lake have operated since the 1970s. The East Rift Valley National Scenic Area Headquarters was established in 1997, while the lake was incorporated into the scenic area in 2016. Officials said they hope ongoing discussions will lead to stronger safety measures for visitors following the fatal accident, per UDN.
