George Chang
Encyclopedia
George Chang Tsan-hung is a Taiwanese
politician and Taiwan independence
activist. He was the mayor of Tainan City from 1997 to 2001.
, Chang attended the National Taiwan University
to study chemical engineering
. In 1961, Chang arrived at the United States to study at the Rice University
, where he got his doctorate degree. He taught chemical engineering
as a professor at Cooper Union
.
During his stay in the US, Chang started taking part in the Taiwan independence movement. He was the first vice chairperson of the World United Formosans for Independence
(WUFI), and became its chairperson in 1973. During the occurrence of the Kaohsiung Incident
, Chang also advocated many Taiwanese Americans to support the democratic movement
going on in Taiwan
.
In 1991, Chang returned to Taiwan. In the same year, he was indicted for "leading a rebellion" (首謀內亂罪). However, because of the amendment of "Crime Law Article 100" (刑法第100條), he was pleaded not guilty in October 1992. He later joined the Democratic Progressive Party
(DPP) and was nominated by the party to run for legislator. However, he was not elected as he only got thirty thousand votes. In 1997, he was nominated by the DPP to run for the mayor of Tainan and was elected with over one hundred thousand. He became the first mayor of Tainan to be a member of the DPP.
, the Tainan Confucian Temple, and the Tainan Canal (台南運河). He also opened many historic sites to night-time visits. He had a goal to spur the cultural and tourist industries by preserving historic sites.
Under his term, he proposed and carried out many plans to improve the city. These plans include "Flat Road Proposal" (路平專案), "Fixing the Malfunctioning Streetlights Before Sunset, After Reporting" (路燈查報、當天天黑前修復), "Park Adoption" (公園認養), "No Trash on the Ground" (垃圾不落地), and "Recycling" (資源回收), which improved the living quality of the residents. The public security
of the city also improved a lot since Chang's term as Tainan ranked second place out of the five provincial city of Taiwan, the first being Keelung
. Chang also started the first Voluntary Firefighting Communication Team of the nation, which secured the lives and properties of the residents.
Taiwanese people
Taiwanese people may refer to individuals who either claim or are imputed cultural identity focused on the island of Taiwan and/or Taiwan Area which have been governed by the Republic of China since 1945...
politician and Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
activist. He was the mayor of Tainan City from 1997 to 2001.
Early years
After graduating from the National Tainan First Senior High SchoolNational Tainan First Senior High School
National Tainan First Senior High School is a public senior high school in Tainan City, Taiwan. The school was established in 1922. It is often considered one of the most prestigious high schools in Taiwan, usually only accepting students who rank in the top 3 percentile of the Taiwan Basic...
, Chang attended the National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University
National Taiwan University is a national co-educational university located in Taipei, Republic of China . In Taiwan, it is colloquially known as "Táidà" . Its main campus is set upon 1,086,167 square meters in Taipei's Da'an District. In addition, the university has 6 other campuses in Taiwan,...
to study chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
. In 1961, Chang arrived at the United States to study at the Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, where he got his doctorate degree. He taught chemical engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
as a professor at Cooper Union
Cooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
.
During his stay in the US, Chang started taking part in the Taiwan independence movement. He was the first vice chairperson of the World United Formosans for Independence
World United Formosans for Independence
The World United Formosans for Independence , also known as WUFI, is an organization promoting Taiwan independence. It was established in 1970 by like-minded organizations in Canada, the U.S., Japan, Europe, and Taiwan...
(WUFI), and became its chairperson in 1973. During the occurrence of the Kaohsiung Incident
Kaohsiung Incident
The Kaohsiung Incident also known as the Formosa Incident, the Meilidao Incident or the Formosa Magazine incident was the result of pro-democracy demonstrations that occurred in Kaohsiung, Taiwan on December 10, 1979....
, Chang also advocated many Taiwanese Americans to support the democratic movement
Democratic Movement
Democratic Movement may refer to:*Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement *Democratic Movement...
going on in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
In 1991, Chang returned to Taiwan. In the same year, he was indicted for "leading a rebellion" (首謀內亂罪). However, because of the amendment of "Crime Law Article 100" (刑法第100條), he was pleaded not guilty in October 1992. He later joined the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party
The Democratic Progressive Party is a political party in Taiwan, and the dominant party in the Pan-Green Coalition. Founded in 1986, DPP is the first meaningful opposition party in Taiwan. It has traditionally been associated with strong advocacy of human rights and a distinct Taiwanese identity,...
(DPP) and was nominated by the party to run for legislator. However, he was not elected as he only got thirty thousand votes. In 1997, he was nominated by the DPP to run for the mayor of Tainan and was elected with over one hundred thousand. He became the first mayor of Tainan to be a member of the DPP.
Achievements
Chang is known for his impetus to improve the conditions of the Anping PortAnping, Tainan
Anping District is a district of Tainan City. The history of Anping dates back to the 17th century, when Dutch East India Company occupied Tayuan/Tayoan/Tayouan/Tayowan...
, the Tainan Confucian Temple, and the Tainan Canal (台南運河). He also opened many historic sites to night-time visits. He had a goal to spur the cultural and tourist industries by preserving historic sites.
Under his term, he proposed and carried out many plans to improve the city. These plans include "Flat Road Proposal" (路平專案), "Fixing the Malfunctioning Streetlights Before Sunset, After Reporting" (路燈查報、當天天黑前修復), "Park Adoption" (公園認養), "No Trash on the Ground" (垃圾不落地), and "Recycling" (資源回收), which improved the living quality of the residents. The public security
Public security
To meet the increasing challenges in the public security area, responsible public institutions and organisations can tap into their own intelligence to successfully address possible threats in advance...
of the city also improved a lot since Chang's term as Tainan ranked second place out of the five provincial city of Taiwan, the first being Keelung
Keelung
Keelung City is a major port city situated in the northeastern part of Taiwan. It borders New Taipei and forms the Taipei–Keelung metropolitan area, along with the Taipei and New Taipei. Nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, the city is Taiwan's second largest seaport...
. Chang also started the first Voluntary Firefighting Communication Team of the nation, which secured the lives and properties of the residents.