[Kaohsiung News] The Kaohsiung City Government held its municipal administrative meeting at the Net Zero Institute on July 14. During the meeting, Mayor Chen Chi-mai reviewed post-typhoon environmental cleanup, public sanitation, and flood preparedness following Typhoon Bavi. He instructed all city agencies to continue implementing disaster prevention and flood preparedness measures throughout the typhoon and flood season, while urging residents to remove standing water from containers inside and outside their homes after rainfall to prevent mosquito breeding. Prior to the meeting, Chen also recognized Kaohsiung City Government Secretary-General Kuo Tien-kuei and Director Hsu Yung-mu of the Public Works Bureau's Construction Office upon their retirement, thanking them for more than three decades of dedicated public service and their significant contributions to Kaohsiung's development and transformation.
With Typhoon Bavi now having moved away from Taiwan, Chen instructed all responsible agencies to continue maintaining a clean environment throughout the city. He directed the Environmental Protection Bureau to strengthen the clearing of roadside drains, noting that post-rain conditions can easily lead to mosquito breeding. He also instructed the Department of Health to remind residents to eliminate standing water around their homes after rainfall and to maintain good household sanitation through regular inspections and cleaning. As the typhoon season continues, Chen emphasized that all city agencies must remain vigilant in carrying out disaster prevention and typhoon preparedness measures to minimize potential risks.
Secretary-General Kuo Tien-kuei and Director Hsu Yung-mu both reached mandatory retirement age in July. Before the municipal administrative meeting, Chen presented Secretary-General Kuo with Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Medals and a retirement commemorative gift in recognition of his more than 30 years of outstanding public service. Chen expressed his appreciation to both officials for their professionalism and dedication, noting that their long-standing commitment to municipal development had laid an important foundation for Kaohsiung's growth. He wished them a healthy and fulfilling retirement and expressed his hope that they would continue sharing their valuable experience and wisdom to support the city's future development.
During his tenure, Secretary-General Kuo played a key role in advancing major municipal projects through his exceptional professional expertise and strong interagency coordination. He assisted the mayor in promoting major infrastructure projects, the development of smart technology industries, publicly led urban renewal, urban space revitalization, and diversified investment promotion, contributing significantly to urban development, port transformation, and the revitalization of Kaohsiung's old harbor district.
Director Hsu, meanwhile, dedicated his career to advancing major infrastructure projects, including bridges, roads, and public buildings. His efforts helped improve the city's transportation network, enhance the quality of public facilities, and create a safer, more convenient, and more livable urban environment, making substantial contributions to Kaohsiung's infrastructure and residents' quality of life. Fellow department heads also presented him with flowers and warm embraces to celebrate his retirement.
In response to climate change and the global transition toward net-zero emissions, the city government invited Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of the ICLEI World Secretariat, to deliver a keynote address following the meeting. He shared how local governments can address climate change and global warming by promoting renewable energy, green finance, the circular economy, civic participation, and AI-enabled smart cities to build resilient cities that support decarbonization, sustainable development, and climate adaptation.
Founded in 1990, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is the world's largest global network of local governments dedicated to sustainable development. Through policy advocacy, capacity building, and international cooperation, ICLEI promotes low-carbon, resilient, circular, and nature-based urban development while supporting local governments in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Kaohsiung joined ICLEI in 2006 and established the ICLEI Kaohsiung Capacity Center in 2012, becoming the second such center in the world and the only one in East Asia. The center supports Taiwanese local governments in participating in international exchanges on sustainable development, climate governance, and urban transformation.
Photo 1–2: Secretary-General Kuo Tien-kuei and Director Hsu Yung-mu of the Public Works Bureau's Construction Office retire upon reaching mandatory retirement age. Before the municipal administrative meeting, Mayor Chen Chi-mai presented them with retirement commemorative gifts and extended his appreciation for their longstanding contributions to municipal governance and infrastructure development.
Photo 3–4: Following the departure of Typhoon Bavi, Mayor Chen Chi-mai chaired the municipal administrative meeting and instructed relevant agencies to strengthen environmental cleanup and roadside drain maintenance while reminding residents to eliminate standing water after rainfall to prevent mosquito breeding.