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Justin Huang

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Justin Huang
Huang Chien-ting
黃健庭
Magistrate of Taitung County
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 December 2009
Preceded byKuang Li-chen
Member of the Legislative Yuan
In office
2 February 2002 – 15 October 2009
Succeeded byLai Kun-cheng
ConstituencyTaitung County
Member of the National Assembly
In office
20 May 1996 – 19 May 2000
ConstituencyTaitung County
Personal details
Born (1959-11-06) 6 November 1959 (age 65)
Taitung County, Taiwan
NationalityRepublic of China
Political partyKuomintang
Alma materNational Chengchi University
Santa Clara University

Justin Huang (Chinese: 黃健庭; pinyin: Huáng Jiàntíng) is a Taiwanese politician. He has served as the Magistrate of Taitung County (also known as County Commissioner/County Mayor/Governor) since 20 December 2009. Huang is the son of former Taitung Magistrate, Minister of Public Construction, and KMT Internal Affairs Central Commissioner, Huang Ching-fong (黃鏡峰). [1]

Education

Huang obtained his bachelor's degree from the Department of International Trade of National Chengchi University. In 1981 he left Taiwan to study at Santa Clara University in the United States, where he completed a Master of Business Administration. [2]

Taitung County Magistrate

Huang was elected as the Magistrate of Taitung County after winning the 2009 Republic of China local election under the Kuomintang on 5 December 2009 and assumed office on 20 December 2009. He was reelected for a second term in 2014 after winning the local election on 29 November 2014 and took office on 25 December the same year.

2014 Taitung County Magistrate Election Result
No. Candidate Party Votes Percentage
1 Liu Chao-hao (劉櫂豪) Template:DPP/short 53,860 45.59%
2 Justin Huang Template:KMT/short 64,272 54.41%

Administration Goals

In his 'Governor’s Column',[3] Justin Huang outlined his election promises.

Anti-Corruption Platform

In light of the Taitung’s Government’s history of criminal behaviour, [4] Huang vowed to “Clean up corruption.” [5] With a generational understanding of the problem, his goal was to:

“Create an incorrupt, professional county government...No excuses.” [6]

As a result of Huang's efforts, corruption cases within the Taitung Government fell to zero charges laid by the Taitung Criminal Investigation Bureau throughout his 8-year watch, down from over 40 in the previous 8 years. (citation needed)

Jobs through Development

In 2013, Justin Huang announced:

“Taitung is the first and only county to have passed the Taitung Autonomous Landscape Regulations Management Act which aims to protect the environment and develop local construction at the same time."[7]

By reducing the ‘red tape’ of Central Government environmental regulations, Huang promised to: “Listen to the people... not lazy bureaucrats”. [8]

The centrepiece policy was to “create local construction”, [9] including a new resort district on traditional indigenous territory along the spectacular coastal countryside of Taitung. [10]

Huang made 18 trips to China [11] to promote Taitung as a potential high-volume tourism resource. He promised to “Allow tour buses to freely travel”, while at the same time “Develop culture” and “Support indigenous youth”.[12]

In his article Seeing the Hope and Future and Hearing a Melody of Happiness for Taitung, Huang explained his plans:

“We will use the uniqueness of the diverse cultures of indigenous, Hakka, Min-Nan and Han people combined with the abundant natural resources given by God to Taitung, displaying purity, nature, health and charm. We will make a tourist destination of recreation and the blue ocean…. The vision of “beautiful tourist spots and a prosperous economy” is about to appear….” [13]

Taitung Miramar Resort

Taitung Miramar Resort, 2018

The first appearance of this vision was the Build Operate Transfer (BOT) scheme, Miramar Resort, on Shanyuan/Fudafudak Beach, which is shared public/indigenous land. [14] This joint government project with Huang Chun-fa’s (黃春發) Durban Developments Ltd attracted Huang’s support. [15]

However, it placed Huang on a collision course with a coalition of indigenous land rights advocates and environmentalists, including traditional custodian, Lin Shu-ling (林淑玲), from the Tse-tung buluo (indigenous village) who argued:

“Aboriginal land has continuously been taken away. It’s happening and I can’t pretend that I don’t see it... I’m ready to make a signal fire, call out, ask people to help guard the ocean and my buluo together.” [16]

Eight years later, due to “missteps by the developers during the construction process,” [14] nation-wide protest, and four Supreme Court rulings, Miramar was unable to open. [17] It still stands on the shores of Shanyuan/Fudafuduk bay.

Government Compensation Payout to Miramar

The Huang Government is currently negotiating with Miramar owner, Huang Chun-fa, to determine a government payout to Miramar. Both parties have floated a figure “of at least one billion dollars (NT)”, [18] [19] Critics of the deal highlight conflict of interest concerns when “the player acts as the referee”. [20] Environmental and human rights lawyer, Thomas Chan, argues there are no grounds for compensating Miramar:

“By evading the EIA in the beginning, this amounts to violating the law, knowingly, in advance of the act… There are no grounds whatsoever to protect a claim of ‘legitimate expectation’. [21]

Justin Huang continues to press for a decisive settlement and has resisted calls for the Taitung Government to step away:

“(If it was transferred from the County government), it could take years for a national enquiry into compensation to be conducted ... meaning those persons who have been conducting negotiations might change.” [15]

According to Arbitration Rule 23:

"The Arbitration process is confidential and not open to the public. The arbitration court should allow both parties (Taitung Government and Miramar representatives) to have sufficient opportunities to make their statement, and investigate when necessary according to what they propose. The process will remain private but is not subject to limitations should both parties reach an alternative agreement." [22]

Justin Huang has continued to fight for his vision of a new resort district on Taitung County’s coastline. During his last year in office, three new hotel groups have been authorised to begin construction in the same vicinity as Miramar. [23] [24]

Christian Lifestyle

In 1987, Justin Huang married Chen Lien-yen (陳怜燕). As a couple, they are prominent members of the Taiwan Christian Community. Chen introduced Huang to Christianity when they met whilst studying together at Santa Clara University in the 1980's. Together with Top Church Pastor, Chang Mao-song (張茂松)[25], they pray for God’s guidance to resolve intransigent political issues. [26]

In a chapter from Huang's autobiography, 'Dare to be Different, The growing story of Justin Huang and Taitung', Chen Lien-yen, former Taitung Chief of Tourism and Culture, contributes her perspective:

“I used to think I was the treasure of God, but finally I realised that Huang Jien-ting (Justin Huang) is the person that God really loves because if I don’t obey him, the spirit always scolds me. It reminds me that Eve was made to help Adam and my work is to help Huang Jien-ting. Huang Jien-ting is good at solving problems - I am good at praying - this is an arrangement bestowed by God.” [27]

Justin Huang is also the Director of the Taitung County Young Workers’ Association as well as being the Founder and Chairman of the Healthy Families Cultural and Educational Foundation, and the Taitung Student Parent Foundation. [28]

Pharmaceutical Corruption Charges

In 2008, Huang’s political career was threatened when he was charged with accepting bribes and/or influence pedalling in relation to Lotus (美時公司) Fisherman (派頓製藥公司), and Yi Sheng Pharmaceutical companies (羿盛公司). Huang denied the accusations. Although found guilty of laundering money through his Charity Foundations, he was cleared on all counts of corruption in a ruling by Judge Pong (彭慶文) in 2016. He was sentenced to a combined 10 months jail (on two charges). This was reduced to 5 months jail due to the application of the 'Speedy Trial Act', which, in turn, enabled the sentence to be converted to a fine.

Huang continues to proclaim his innocence saying the case against him was politically motivated (citation needed). He has appealed the decision. [29]

References

  1. ^ KMT’s Justin Huang alleged to hold US citizenship. Taipei Times (2014-02-16). Retrieved on 2014-02-23.
  2. ^ "Taitung County Government English-Magistrate's Column". taitung.gov.tw. Retrieved 2014-08-24.
  3. ^ Governor's Column. Taitung County Government Website
  4. ^ The Research of the influence for Local construction By the competes of Local Factions In Taitung County 台東縣地方派系競合對地方建設影響之研究. Patrick.s.lo 羅紹平 （2007）
  5. ^ Justin Huang, Governor's Column
  6. ^ Justin Huang, Governor's Column
  7. ^ Huang, Justin (2014). Dare to be different: The growing story of Justin Huang and Taitung 勇敢不一樣 - 黃健庭與台東的成長故事. Taiwan: Commonwealth Publishing. p. 176. ISBN 9789863205296.
  8. ^ Justin Huang, Governor's Column
  9. ^ Justin Huang, Governor's Column
  10. ^ Resort project returned to drawing board. Taipei Times. (2018-03-07)
  11. ^ Taitung County Government Overseas Business Trips Report System 台東縣政府公務出國報告專區
  12. ^ Justin Huang, Governor's Column
  13. ^ Justin Huang, Seeing the Hope and Future and Hearing a Melody of Happiness for Taitung
  14. ^ a b Imaginative Geographies and State Reliance: Examining Taiwan's Shanyuan Bay and Miramar Resort. Timothy J. Chen. (Sep. 2015 P.71)
  15. ^ a b Miramar controversy - County commissioner Justin Huang begs just 1 mouthful of food for Taitungese
  16. ^ Don’t force me to accept your gold-mining dream. 人間異語：你的發財夢 別塞給我. Apple Daily 蘋果日報 (2012-06-09)
  17. ^ EDITORIAL: Miramar resort: tourism gone wrong. Taipei Times. (2016-04-02)
  18. ^ Meiliwan Resort developer to seek new trial on project. Taipei Times. (2012-01-27)
  19. ^ Buying Miramar Resort with 1.2 billion? Taitung County Commissioner Justin Huang sighs, "Taitung is too poor to afford." 美麗灣要12億由台東買回？縣長嘆窮做不到 UDN 聯合新聞網. (2017-11-03)
  20. ^ Academics blast resort project Taipei Times. (2012-11-22)
  21. ^ “Shameless!”: Thomas Chan slams Taitung Government’s refusal to withdraw building permit
  22. ^ Taitung County Arbitration Rules
  23. ^ Taipei Times, 2016, EPA approves hotel without locals' input
  24. ^ Taipei Times, 2016, Ecologists cheer Miramar ruling
  25. ^ Focus Taiwan: Rainbow Avenue - Discussion of homosexual topic in Taiwan and to deliver diverse voices! Discovery documentary. (2016)
  26. ^ Top Church video, Huang addresses congregation with Pastor Chang
  27. ^ Huang, Justin (2014). Dare to be different: The growing story of Justin Huang and Taitung 勇敢不一樣 - 黃健庭與台東的成長故事. Taiwan: Commonwealth Publishing Co., Ltd. p. 248. ISBN 978-986-320-529-6.
  28. ^ Governor's Column
  29. ^ Liberty Times, Taitung County Magistrate convicted in pharmaceutical lobbying case
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