To implement her policies of Hakka cultural revitalization and promotion of Taiwanese literature, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening ceremony of Chung Chao-cheng Literary Park (鍾肇政文學生活園區) in Longtan District, Taoyuan City on April 20. 

She was accompanied by Lee Yung-de, minister of the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC); Chung Chao-cheng (鍾肇政), one of the pioneers of Taiwanese literature; Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), mayor of Taoyuan City; Chung Yen-wei (鍾延威), one of Chung Chao-cheng’s sons who is also a writer; Chiang Chieh-an (蔣絜安), a legislator; and Celest Hsiao-ching Ting (丁曉菁), deputy minister of the Ministry of Culture.

President Tsai stated that, four years ago, she had promised to revitalize Hakka culture and help Hakka people regain their sense of glory. After she took office, many Hakka-related projects are now being carried out, including the recognition of Hakka as a national language, the establishment of Hakka Radio, and implementation of the “369” flagship projects — Taiwan Romantic Route 3, Beautiful Liudui, and Lively Provincial Highway 9 — which aim to integrate tourism and regional industries in Hakka villages across Taiwan and maximize local economic benefits. 

President Tsai further noted that during the enduring hardships of the 1950s, the elder Chung united writers with his literary creations. She expressed her hope that after extensive repairs, his former residence reopening as Chung Chao-cheng Literary Park will become a stronghold of Hakka cultural development and Taiwanese literature.

HAC Minister Lee explained that Taoyuan City Government is the recipient of half of the government’s subsidization budget under the Taiwan Romantic Route 3 project because it has actively participated in Hakka affairs over the years. For instance, it submitted many quality proposals to MAC and efficiently implemented the approved projects. The joint endeavors of HAC and Taoyuan City Government will surely make the cultural industries of Taoyuan’s Hakka communities into one of the tourist highlights of Taiwan, added Lee. 

Taoyuan Mayor Cheng noted under the cooperation of Taoyuan City Government, Ministry of Culture, and HAC, it took less than three years to accomplish the restoration work of Chung Chao-cheng Literary Park. He also mentioned that Taoyuan’s Teng Yu-hsien Taiwanese Music Memorial Hall (鄧雨賢台灣音樂紀念館) is now officially open, and that a new cultural venue called Taiwan Hakka Tea Culture Museum (臺灣客家茶文化館) is currently under construction. Taoyuan City will also host the nation’s inaugural Hakka exposition in 2022 to raise the profile of Hakka culture, Cheng pointed out.