Mayor Chen Chi-mai Instructs City Government to Strengthen Environmental Readiness and Public Safety Ahead of Lunar New Year Holiday

[Kaohsiung News] At the municipal administrative meeting on February 10, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai noted that Jianshan Elementary School in Taoyuan District has been approved by the Ministry of Education's K-12 Education Administration for the 2025 Academic Year International Education Subsidy Program. Five teachers will lead 12 students to the United States next week for a one-week educational and cultural exchange. Mayor Chen expressed gratitude to TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd. for fulfilling its corporate social responsibility and supporting students in remote areas, as well as to Kaohsiung City Council Speaker Kang Yu-cheng and Councilor Kao Chung-te for their steadfast support. He wished the teachers and students a rewarding trip that broadens their international perspectives. In addition, student Huang Tai-hsiang of Houjing Junior High School participated in the 74th New Year Race Walk in Tokyo in 2026 and won the junior high school 3-kilometer championship, setting a new event record. Mayor Chen publicly commended him at the meeting and presented a cash award.

With the approach of the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, the Civil Affairs Bureau, Tourism Bureau, Public Works Bureau, Labor Affairs Bureau, and Department of Health delivered briefings on environmental maintenance at key locations including major roads, tourist attractions, parks, and green spaces, as well as reports on occupational safety inspections during year-end maintenance, as well as epidemic prevention measures. Mayor Chen instructed relevant departments to strengthen site management and facility maintenance, continue environmental cleaning and lawn upkeep, and provide a high-quality recreational environment for the public.

Regarding public safety, the city government has integrated public and private sector resources to safeguard worker safety. Kaohsiung is the only special municipality to have received the Ministry of Labor's Excellence Award for "Performance Evaluation of Occupational Safety and Health Promotion in Government Agencies" for two consecutive terms. In 2025, the number of fatalities from major occupational accidents declined to 24, the lowest since Mayor Chen took office and the lowest since the county-city merger, demonstrating concrete results in advancing occupational safety. In response to the anticipated increase in temporary operations such as year-end maintenance, cleanup, and rush construction before the holiday, the Labor Affairs Bureau will continue supervising businesses to ensure operational safety. With regard to medical and epidemic preparedness, the Department of Health reminded the public to guard against norovirus, hantavirus, and dengue fever. The Department will continue monitoring emergency room capacity, strengthening reporting mechanisms at medical institutions, conducting environmental cleanup and disinfection, and carrying out rodent control measures. Inspections of markets, temples, tourist attractions, and construction sites will be completed before the Lunar New Year to prevent standing water and mosquito breeding, safeguarding public health.

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Mayor Chen Chi-mai thanked TS Financial Holding Co., Ltd. for donating funds to support Jianshan Elementary School in Taoyuan District for its educational exchange trip to the United States.

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At the municipal administrative meeting, Huang Tai-hsiang of Houjing Junior High School was commended for winning the junior high school 3-kilometer championship and setting a new event record at the 74th New Year Race Walk in Tokyo in 2026.

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Mayor Chen Chi-mai reviewed parking arrangements and environmental readiness in areas surrounding the 2026 Kaohsiung Wonderland, instructing relevant municipal agencies to ensure proper site maintenance so that the public may fully enjoy the festive atmosphere.