Photo on Free Rice Sparks Controversy in Hualien|物資米袋重印徐榛蔚肖像 引發地方議論

To take care of mid- to low-income households and families, the Hualien County Government has started handing out free commodities. However, people have discovered that the images of Fu Kun-chi and his wife, that was canceled by former Acting Magistrate Tsai Pi-chung have now been replaced by an photo of current Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei. Reaction to this has been mixed.


Hualien County Magistrate Hsu Chen-wei hands out rice at the indigenous activities center in Xincheng Township. Mid- to low-income earners gladly accept two 3-kilogram bags of rice and say they really don't care whose face is on the bags.

It's not a big deal. (Getting the rice is the most important thing?) Right. This is a gift from the magistrate.

Last September, Deputy Justice Minister Tsai Pi-chung arrived in Hualien as the new acting magistrate. His first act as magistrate was replacing the photo of Fu Kun-chi and his wife from commodities packaging with the words "Hualien County Cares About You." After Hsu was elected, she replaced the words with her own photo.

This impacts people's senses. Does there have to be a photo on it, or can the photo be replaced with something with more meaning? This should be the magistrate's consideration.

The Hualien County Government says the photos are not illegal and no additional funds were spent to add Hsu's photo to packaging. It also responded to criticism that the rice was supplied by Yunlin-based Yeedon Enterprise, saying Yeedon's bid of NT$ 12.5 million was the lowest received and it's not that the county is neglecting local rice farmers.

This is part of the county's outreach program. Outreach exists in different formats and that's what really matters.

One rice recipient says it has been a long time since he last saw Fu and Hsu's faces and he missed them and hopes to see both of their photos next time.