Department of Sports, Taipei City Government

Commissioner You Shih-Ming of the Department of Finance (DOF), Taipei City Government (TCG) visited Deputy Magistrate Chen Kuan-jen of Lienchiang County Government (LCG) and Commissioner Chen Sui-chin of Finance and Local Tax Bureau, LCG today. Their exchange of ideas focused on financial management, tobacco, and alcohol management and investigation. Both sides gained a lot from the lively discussions. The exchange's key points are as follows:

1.    Financial management and debt management: In 2022, the LCG and TCG both were awarded grades A in the assessment of "Financial Management" which is an assessment of “The Program for Assisting Local Government Finance” conducted by the Ministry of Finance every year. The absence of debt-raising for many years has led the LCG to receive excellent grades in the assessment of “Debt Management”. It is possible to share relevant management experiences with each other. The LCG hasn't borrowed debt for years, maintaining a debt balance of 0. On the other hand, the TCG heavily loads the metropolis construction of Taiwan, which caused debt for years. The TCG applies both administration policy and fiscal discipline to properly reduce debt, resulting in a gradual reduction of debt balances. The TCG's Mayor Chiang Wan-an took office at the end of 2022, and the amount of outstanding debt was reduced by NT$7.4 billion until August 2023. The outstanding debt was reduced to NT$82.4 billion.

2.    Tobacco and alcohol management and investigation: The socio-economic and geographical environments of Lienchiang County and Taipei City are very different. There is only one tobacco and alcohol producer in Lienchiang County, Matsu Liquor Factory Industry CO, LTD. (with two factory sites in Nangan and Dongyin respectively); there are two tobacco and alcohol importers; and there are 396 tobacco and alcohol wholesalers or retailers (about 3% of Taipei City). Through the visit, DOF gained an in-depth understanding of the practical work on tobacco and alcohol management and investigation of Lienchiang County Government, so as to serve as a reference for tobacco and alcohol management. Because Taipei City has no coastline and no port, it is difficult for DOF to accumulate experience and actual achievements in the investigation of smuggled tobacco and alcohol from sea areas to coasts, estuaries, and non-commercial ports. It is hoped that through joint cooperation, DOF can crack down on crime and protect the health of the people.