[Kaohsiung News] The Kaohsiung City Government held its 717th municipal administrative meeting on April 1, with Mayor Chen Chi-mai presiding. During a media interview before the meeting, Chen was asked about his thoughts on attending TSMC’s 2nm fab production expansion ceremony on March 31. He detailed how TSMC’s journey in Kaohsiung, from nothing to fully operational, was made possible in just four years, thanks to successful efforts in soil remediation, construction of a reclaimed water plant, urban planning adjustments, environmental assessments, and community engagement. The mayor emphasized that the Kaohsiung City Government has proven to be TSMC’s best partner. Mayor Chen also reaffirmed that the city is fully prepared to support future investments from world-class companies. Leveraging Kaohsiung’s latecomer advantage, the city will continue to drive technological innovation and transformation. “Opportunity favors the prepared,” he reiterated, adding that Kaohsiung is ready and accelerating forward.
Chen highlighted that TSMC, as the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, leads the industry with its advanced processes. With the rise of AI-driven industries, TSMC is expanding its global footprint, and Kaohsiung is set to become a major hub with the construction of five 2nm fabs. This will link Kaohsiung with Southern Taiwan to form the world’s largest and most advanced semiconductor cluster. Given the April 1 date (April Fool’s Day), Mayor Chen jokingly declared that all elementary and middle schools in Kaohsiung would have a day off on Thursday and Friday to celebrate TSMC’s expansion, sparking laughter all around and reflecting the joy of the occasion.
Looking ahead to the upcoming four-day Tomb-Sweeping Day holiday, Mayor Chen also reminded city agencies to stay on top of traffic conditions, particularly with the anticipated crowds for Children’s Day events at Weiwuying National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts and Shoushan Zoo. He instructed the Transportation Bureau and Police Department to implement necessary traffic control and guidance measures, and urged relevant agencies to maintain cleanliness at popular scenic areas, major roads, public venues, and restrooms to ensure a high-quality visitor experience.
During the meeting, the Finance Bureau, Civil Affairs Bureau, and Department of Health presented their respective reports: “Strengthening Fiscal Health Through Revenue Generation and Cost Control,” “2025 Tomb-Sweeping Festival Public Service Plan,” and “Epidemic Prevention Efforts.” Mayor Chen expressed gratitude to all departments for their continued fiscal discipline, highlighting that the city has maintained zero new borrowing for four consecutive years and has reduced debt by NT$20.1 billion. He instructed the Finance Bureau to proactively monitor the Ministry of Finance's developments regarding revisions to the Act Governing the Allocation of Government Revenues and Expenditures and to formulate response strategies in advance to actively secure central government funding in support of municipal infrastructure projects and public welfare.
Regarding Tomb-Sweeping Festival customs and rituals, Mayor Chen urged the Civil Affairs Bureau, Mortuary Services Office, and Military Service Office to make adequate preparations. He also called on the Environmental Protection Bureau, Fire Department, Police Department, and district offices to provide comprehensive services during the holiday period. Fire trucks should be stationed near cemeteries in rural areas as a precautionary measure. As for dengue fever prevention, the mayor emphasized that relevant departments must continue to implement control measures in designated alert zones and ensure that responsible venues are properly maintained. Community and neighborhood volunteers should remain mobilized to carry out environmental cleanup. In line with ancestral worship traditions during the holiday, he also instructed the Department of Health to strengthen public awareness campaigns on mosquito prevention to minimize mosquito-borne disturbances.
Image 1-2: Mayor Chen Chi-mai chairs the municipal administrative meeting and shares his reflections on attending TSMC’s 2nm expansion ceremony on March 31. He reaffirmed the city government’s commitment to fully support future investments by world-class companies, stating that Kaohsiung is fully prepared and moving forward with determination.
Image 3–4: During the meeting, the Finance Bureau and Civil Affairs Bureau present reports on “Strengthening Fiscal Health Through Revenue Generation and Cost Control” and the “2025 Tomb-Sweeping Festival Public Service Plan.”