Legislative secretary-general hopes relocation site to be decided this term

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) The secretary-general of the Legislative Yuan said Thursday he hopes a site for the legislature's relocation or reconstruction can be decided during the current legislative term.

Chou Wan-lai (周萬來) made the remarks at a hearing when lawmakers asked about progress on proposals to relocate or rebuild the legislature.

The Legislative Yuan is currently based in a complex that once served as the Taihoku Prefectural Second Girls' High School during the Japanese colonial period. However, despite several expansions, the location still faces space constraints.

During the previous legislative term, then-speaker You Si-kun (游錫堃) convened a panel of experts to review the issue. The panel shortlisted six potential expansion sites across Taipei, New Taipei, Taichung and the counties of Yilan and Changhua.

They included Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the former Air Force headquarters in Taipei, Tucheng Detention Center, the Chengkungling military training base, the Chung Hsing Cultural and Creative Park, and a special zone within the High Speed Rail Changhua Station area.

However, no decision was made at the time.

Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) is said to favor the Grand Hotel site in Taipei, while some staff favor the former Air Force headquarters site, Chou told lawmakers.

A newly appointed urban planning head at the Legislative Yuan has proposed the reconstruction of the current site, Chou said, adding that all options are currently under review.

The secretary-general said he has a strong attachment to the Legislative Yuan and hopes a site can be decided during the current term. However, the matter still requires cross-party negotiations and agreement.

He added that party caucuses can ask Speaker Han to convene cross-party talks, and expressed hope that, as in the 10th Legislative Yuan, a committee can be established to advance the issue.

(By Wang Yang-yu and Ko Lin) Endiem/AW