Legislator Wang Meihui (left) reviewed the budget of the Hakka Committee today and criticized the central government for ignoring the rights and interests of the Hakka community in Chiayi City.

(Provided by Wang Meihui)

[Reporter Wang Shanyan/Chiayi Report] The Internal Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed the Hakka Committee's annual budget for next year today. Legislator Wang Meihui said that the Hakka Committee's official budget exceeded 4.6 billion yuan, of which 1.4 billion yuan was allocated for arts and cultural dissemination and promotion. There is no arrangement for Hakka arts and cultural activities to be performed in Chiayi City. The rights and interests of the Hakka people in Chiayi City have been forgotten and neglected, and the central government is insufficiently subsidized. Planning to perform in Chiayi City, the Chiayi Local Activities Center will give full support, and will also review the allocation and distribution of subsidy funds.

Wang Meihui pointed out that the Hakka population in Chiayi City is about 24,000 people, mainly living in the Yuanlinzai and Luliao Li areas. Although Chiayi City is small in size and the number of Hakka groups is small, the central government should treat people equally without discriminating against the population of each ethnic group. It is unfair to the citizens of Chiayi to exclude Chiayi City from the promotion of Hakka culture by ignoring towns with small populations, and the development policy of the Hakka Committee should be extended to outside key cultural development areas for the benefit of Inheritance of Hakka culture.

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Wang Meihui said that Chiayi City hosts activities such as Hakka Day, Chuantian Day, Tonghua Festival, and Hakka Market every year. A few days ago, some local associations reported that the amount of subsidies from the central government is insufficient, and the activities may be suspended next year. It is one of the most important ways to attract young people who work in other places to return to their hometowns to get to know the family culture. If the activities are cancelled, not only the elders will feel disappointed, but they will also worry about the gradual loss of culture, and the language may be difficult to pass on.

Legislator Wang Meihui (left) criticized the central arts and cultural activities for neglecting to perform in Chiayi City.

(Provided by Wang Meihui)