[Kaohsiung News] Ahead of the grand opening of the Kaohsiung Railway Workshop Family Recreation Park on August 8, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai called for comprehensive preparations to ensure a safe and enjoyable visitor experience. During the municipal administrative meeting on July 28, Chen reviewed a special briefing on the park's opening plans, focusing on shuttle bus services, parking management, drinking water stations, first-aid facilities, restroom capacity, and other visitor services. He instructed all relevant agencies to complete operational preparations, ensure the quality of construction and facility safety, and create a recreational environment that is safe, comfortable, and welcoming for families.
The former Taiwan Railways Kaohsiung Railway Workshop is an important part of the city's industrial heritage. Through its redevelopment, the site has been transformed into a major public space that preserves valuable cultural assets while integrating historical, cultural, and recreational functions. Scheduled to officially open on August 8, the park will become Kaohsiung's newest large-scale family recreation destination. Chen said the city government will continue conducting preventive inspections of park facilities after the opening and maintain long-term maintenance capacity to ensure high-quality operations. Any damaged facilities or environmental issues will be addressed promptly to maintain a clean and pleasant environment. Anticipating large crowds during the opening period, the city has also completed plans for traffic control and pedestrian flow management, improved wayfinding signage, strengthened public transportation and multimodal shuttle connections, and enhanced environmental maintenance in surrounding areas.
Turning to proposed amendments to the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, the city government reiterated its support for a regulatory framework centered on science-based governance and risk-based management. It proposed establishing a Food Safety Commission under a second-level agency of the Executive Yuan to oversee risk assessment and formulate regulatory standards. The city also recommended fixed terms of office for commission members to safeguard professional decision-making from political, trade, or industry influence. In addition, the city proposed incorporating the principles of risk classification, risk communication, and the precautionary principle into the Act. Under the proposal, precautionary control measures could be implemented whenever there is scientifically reasonable suspicion of a high-risk food safety incident. Responses would be based on factors such as the scale of the incident, market share, distribution scope, and potential health risks, with the central government issuing unified nationwide directives within 24 hours.
The city government emphasized that a clear division of responsibilities should be established to balance scientific expertise, administrative management, and information transparency. Citing the question of whether a 20% blended oil content should serve as a regulatory threshold, the city said such determinations should be made by the proposed Food Safety Commission based on scientific evidence, with the competent authority subsequently implementing the appropriate regulatory measures to strengthen the professionalism and credibility of Taiwan's food safety governance.
With the 2026 Urban Resilience Exercise scheduled for August 7, Chen noted that the central government places great importance on the exercise and has instructed all ministries, agencies, and local governments to complete the necessary preparations. He directed all city departments to actively participate in planning and fully implement emergency response mechanisms to further strengthen Kaohsiung's disaster preparedness and resilience.
Before the municipal administrative meeting, Mayor Chen Chi-mai presented certificates of appreciation to eight members of the Kaohsiung Labor Union Volunteer Task Force in recognition of their long-standing dedication to public service, including helping repair the homes of disadvantaged families and workers injured in occupational accidents. The honorees included former China Steel Corporation Labor Union Chair Chen Chun-sheng; former Eternal Materials Labor Union Chair Lin Chin-yuan; China Steel Corporation Labor Union Chair Yang Yi-chi; Wei Chuan Foods Kaohsiung Plant Labor Union Chair Hung Hsin-chieh; Taiwan International Shipbuilding Corporation Labor Union Chair Chang Yi-te; Kaohsiung City Earth-Work Professional Union Chair Hsu Yu-cheng; Union of Kaohsiung Vocational Association Chair Tu Ya-hui; and Kaohsiung Social Welfare Association Chair Li Chao-yang.
Photo 1–4: The Kaohsiung Railway Workshop Family Recreation Park is scheduled to open on August 8. Once an important industrial site in Kaohsiung's development, the former railway workshop has been transformed into a public space that preserves valuable cultural heritage while integrating historical, cultural, and recreational functions.
Photo 5: Mayor Chen Chi-mai reviews preparations for the opening of the Kaohsiung Railway Workshop Family Recreation Park, calling for strict quality control and rigorous safety inspections of all facilities.
Photo 6: The Kaohsiung City Government proposes establishing a Food Safety Commission under the Executive Yuan to clarify institutional responsibilities while strengthening professional decision-making, government oversight, and information transparency.