Vocational school in Chiayi donated to county government

Vocational school in Chiayi donated to county government

2025-11-25

Sieh Chih Vocational High School in Chiayi’s Minxiong Township stopped enrolling new students six years ago, impacted by Taiwan’s declining birthrate. The founder is now donating the school, as well as his personal art collection, to the Chiayi County Government. He hopes this donation, worth NT$4 to NT$5 billion, would support education and art in the local community.

Liu Hai-su was Chen Cheng-po’s principal at the Shanghai School of Fine Arts. This painting is worth around NT$25 million.

This gallery is full of famous paintings collected by Sieh Chih Vocational High founder Ho Ming-tsung. He can introduce each one, showing his passion for fine arts.

- I’ve spent pretty much all my savings on these.
- How much are they worth?
- I couldn’t say. Several hundred million.

Now, Ho plans to donate over 100 paintings, worth several hundred million dollars, to the Chiayi County Government.

Ho Ming-tsung
Sieh Chih Vocational High founder
That’s life. In the end, you just need enough to live fully and take responsibility for your children.

Ho is not only donating his art collection, but also all the property belonging to the school he founded. Six years ago, the school faced enrollment difficulties due to Taiwan’s declining birthrate and decided to stop admitting students. He planned to donate the campus to the neighboring National Chung Cheng University, but the university couldn’t accept it because of renovation costs and permitting issues. The school therefore decided to donate its campus to the Chiayi County Government instead.

Ho Ming-tsung
Sieh Chih Vocational High founder
The land is worth NT$3 to 4 billion itself. Including the buildings, it’s worth NT$4 to 5 billion. The townships in northern Chiayi need a place to realize their vision, so it was a good match. Fortunately, county Commissioner Weng was enthusiastic. He’s a great commissioner to take this on.

Chiayi’s Education Department said it has already taken over the Taibao campus of the now-closed Tatung Institute of Technology to serve as a drone research and development facility. It’s still carefully evaluating what to use the Sieh Chih campus for.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#Chiayi #SiehChihVocationalHighSchool #schoolclosure #birthrate #art #collection #donation #schoolfounder

嘉義民雄協志工商6年前停招創辦人上億收藏捐縣府

2025-11-25

嘉義縣民雄鄉協志工商因少子化，6年前主動停招，創辦人何明宗有意將市價約四、五十億的校舍全數捐給嘉義縣政府，包括他一生收藏，好幾億的名畫也要一併捐出，希望能夠做為教育和美術推廣用途。

"劉海粟就是陳澄波在上海美術學校的校長，這一張大概要2500萬"

走進典藏室，一幅幅的名畫高掛牆面，這是協志工商創辦人何明宗畢生的收藏。每一幅都能如數家珍，可以感受得出來他對美術藝術的熱愛。

"我所有的財產差不多都買這個"
"有辦法算？"
"我沒辦法估算，好幾億啦”

如今，他要把這上百幅，價值好幾億的名畫全數捐給嘉義縣政府。

[[協志工商創辦人何明宗]]
“人生是這樣啦，最後夠用就好，能夠圓滿，孩子的事自己負責”

何明宗要捐的還不只這些，包括他一手創辦的協志工商，所有校產和校舍也將無償捐給縣府。六年前，協志工商因為少子化，面臨招生困境，決定主動停招，董事會決議將六公頃校地無償捐贈給同在民雄鄉的中正大學，中正大學因為部分校舍無使用執照，接管活化的經費需要一億元，向教育部申請補助未過通，只好放棄。校方只好另覓受贈者，結果是縣政府。

[[協志工商創辦人何明宗]]
“若是這塊地照現在市價是30、40億，含設備要40、50億，嘉義縣北邊這幾個鄉鎮，需要有一個駐點，能夠發揮理想，所以一拍即合啦，幸好有翁縣長這麼熱心，這麼好的縣長來接收”

縣府教育處表示，目前已接管退場的大同技術學校太保校區做為無人機研發二館，協志接管用途經費還需審慎評估，希望能有合作機會。

更多新聞內容，請鎖定：
民視台灣台（152頻道）週一至週五晚上9:30
民視新聞台（53頻道）週二至週六凌晨1:00

Related News

Taiwan’s response to recent phone call between leaders of US and China

It was reported that the leaders of the US and China had a phone call on Monday. Chinese state media, Xinhua News Agency claimed that Xi Jinping had said to Donald Trump, “Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.” However, no mention of Taiwan was made in the US president’s summary of the call. On Tuesday, Trump made another phone call, this time to Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. Viewed from Taiwan, the recent events indicated that US policy in the Indo-Pacific remains largely unchanged, but Taiwan must bolster its self-defense capabilities nonetheless.

The leaders of the US and China were known to be in contact once again, following their meeting on the sidelines of APEC at the end of October. Chinese state media stated that Xi Jinping raised the issue of Taiwan over the phone.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Xi had said that “Taiwan’s return to China is an integral part of the post-war international order.” However, US President Donald Trump’s summary on Truth Social said they’d touched upon many topics, including Ukraine and Russia, agricultural exports, and mutual invitations of state visit. He wrote nothing about Taiwan.

Reports of the phone call caught the attention of Taiwan and Japan. The next day, Trump called Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae.

Takaichi Sanae
Prime Minister of Japan
President Trump elaborated on US-China relations to me, including the phone call he had with the Chinese leader. He had just visited Japan, and I believe this phone call re-emphasized the close cooperation between the US and Japan.

Takaichi also said that Trump had told her the two of them are good friends, and she could call him anytime. Meanwhile, the Presidential Office also responded to the reports by saying that Taiwan sees any effort to safeguard regional security positively, and that the country will continue to stay in close contact with the US on this matter. The premier also commented on China’s statement on Taiwan in the phone call.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
The Republic of China, Taiwan, is a fully sovereign and independent country. The 23 million people of Taiwan do not have a “reunification” option. Maintaining the status quo is something the world is collectively focused on.

Cho also emphasized that “Taiwan is the world’s Taiwan.” Meanwhile, a scholar says US policy on the Indo-Pacific region remains largely unchanged.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
Trump had said to Takaichi that she could call him anytime. From that alone, it’s clear that the cooperation between Washington DC and Tokyo remains the same. Trump’s phone call with Xi did not affect US policy on Japan.

Although the recent interaction between the US, China and Japan did not appear to substantively affect the status quo, the scholar said Taiwan’s priority remains the same, that is to maintain its self-defense capabilities.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#politics #geopolitics #indopacific #taiwan #china #japan #us #trump

2025-11-25

National Keelung Senior High School to demolish 46-year-old gate ahead of centennial

National Keelung Senior High School will hold its centennial celebrations next year. Before this, it plans to demolish a half-century-old school gate in December. The school is now inviting alumni to return to the school and snap photos with the old gate before it gets pulled down. The photos will then be displayed at next year’s centennial celebrations. Let’s find out more.

On the side of these school gate pillars, vehicles have left obvious scrapes. The mottled roof of the school gate shows how old it really is. Next year, National Keelung Senior High School will celebrate its centenary, and with this the old school gate will be pulled down.

Chung Ting-hsien
National Keelung Senior High School principal
When it was built back then, the builders didn’t have current traffic conditions in mind, so our side entrances are quite small. Visiting alumni, members of the public and others have noticed that they often accidentally bump into the gates while driving.

National Keelung Senior High School has produced many Taiwanese sports celebrities, including sports minister Lee Yang and national badminton player Chou Tien-cheng. President Lai Ching-te and former president Tsai Ing-wen have also inspected the school. It has already changed its school gates twice, first starting out with an arched shape, and then a square gate. The current third gate has been around for 46 years and will soon be demolished.

Chung Ting-hsien
National Keelung Senior High School principal
For the safety of our teachers and students, and to give National Keelung Senior High School, which is a century-old institution, a new façade and new image, we raised nearly NT$20 million to rebuild our school gate and our perimeter walls.

To coincide with the school’s centennial celebrations, it is organizing an alumni homecoming event. It is creatively preparing various places for snapping photos. It welcomes alumni to come and snap photos with the old gate in humorous, nostalgic and other styles, before it’s gone forever.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#keelung #homecoming #highschool #100years #history

2025-11-25

Garlic vines in Miaoli bloom for third time this year

2025-11-25

14 Taiwan brands implicated by adulterated cosmetic ingredients

2025-11-25

Chiayi limited-edition firefighter calendar only to be raffled off

2026 is almost here, and that means it’s time for another firefighter calendar. The Chiayi County Fire Bureau has put one out for the past four years. This time, they’re featuring their search-and-rescue team including firefighters, volunteers, doctors, and nurses, as well as the police department’s special agents for the very first time. Only 50 calendars will be printed, and all will be given away free of charge.

Emergency responders strip down to their shorts to show off their muscular chests and well-toned physiques. The Chiayi County Fire Bureau got everyone together to shoot a calendar for next year.

This year’s edition features the bureau’s search-and-rescue team, and for the first time, is working with the police department’s special forces as well. Featuring 18 people in total, the calendar showcases the professional and seamless coordination between the fire and police services.

Tsai Chien-an
Chiayi County fire chief
Releasing this calendar shows the professionalism of our firefighters, especially our search-and-rescue team, as well as their physical training when off duty.

Kuan Yu-chen
Lucao fire department chief
They always eat foods high in protein, wringing themselves out to keep a good physique.

But even if you wanted to, you couldn’t buy one of these calendars. There will only be 50, and they’ll only be given away.

Weng Chang-liang
Chiayi County Commissioner
If you want one, you can leave a comment online. I’ve heard there will be a drawing, and if you’re chosen, you’ll have a chance to get one. We hope everyone will give them their greatest encouragement and support.

The Chiayi County Fire Bureau has come out with calendars for the past four years. This year they shot at many notable locations, including Alishan and the Tropic of Cancer monument. Through the project, they hope to convey the message that firefighters are always near, and they’ll never rest when protecting their community.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#firefighters #calendar #hunk #hotguys #Chiayi #searchandrescue #specialagents #photoshoot #giveaway

2025-11-25

New Taipei Railway Relay limited to 1,100 teams

The New Taipei City Railway Relay is about to hold its 11th edition on April 19 next year, welcoming a total of 1,100 teams. Participants will run alongside the railway tracks, enjoying stunning mountain and coastal vistas amid an exciting atmosphere. To give participants an immersive experience of the railway near Shuangxi and Gongliao, organizers have also partnered with Taiwan Railway to offer a commemorative pass just for racers.

During the New Taipei City Railway Relay, racers will feel the thrill of chasing trains as they run alongside the tracks. A total of 1,100 teams can sign up for the race on April 19 next year, with limited-edition gifts available.

Chen Chun-ching
New Taipei City Deputy Mayor
For our first-time participants, we’ve prepared a newcomer award. In addition, for the early-bird signups, the first 111 teams to register will get customized shirts.

As the 11th edition of the relay coincides with the Year of the Horse, the design is based on the seven divine horses of Hindu belief. To offer participants a more up close and personal experience of the Shuangxi and Gongliao railway, the organizers partnered with the Taiwan Railway to offer a special commemorative pass for racers. Beyond the race itself, it will allow participants to immerse themselves in local culture.

Chen Chun-ching
New Taipei City Deputy Mayor
Starting this year, we’re offering relay races in the winter and spring. Then also in March, we’ll have the Wan Jin Shi Marathon. So we hope this will become a truly significant and grand sporting event for northern Taiwan.

Beyond the railway and Christmas relays, New Taipei is creating an entire series of races to brand the city as a place for relays. Through the events, it hopes to boost local tourism, while also positioning the city as a destination for runners.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#relay #relayrace #marathon #NewTaipei #railway #TaiwanRailway #TRC #sports #running #YearoftheHorse #event

2025-11-25

Spotlight: Tracey Chen, lawyer turned jewelry brand founder

Today we take you to meet Tracey Chen, a former attorney who transitioned from the courtroom to the world of high-end jewelry design. Her brand is celebrated for its original creations crafted from diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, jadeite, and gem-grade pearls. FTV reporter Stephany Yang sat down with Chen to explore her creative journey and the inspirations behind her collections.

Chen’s brand currently features five collections, each centered around the theme of light. One standout is the “Sway” collection, inspired by a memory from her youth.

Tracey Chen
Jewelry brand founder
I thought of a scene of a documentary I watched when I was at an early age. It is about a Japanese dancer. She is an elderly woman. She was like moving her body on the empty and black stage. When she was doing her move, every move was like the last of her life. I was so overwhelmed because when she went to the backstage, everyone pushed forward to help her because she collapsed. She was exhausted. I feel like that is something that touched me. So this year, I thought of the theme of the fifth year, I want to use the skirt to show people’s vitality.

Another collection pays tribute to Taiwan’s native orchids—a symbol of resilience and gratitude.

Tracey Chen
Jewelry brand founder
We use the Taiwanese orchid to celebrate and to respect the land of Taiwan. I am really grateful that after something happened to me in my life, I am so happy that when I get back to Taiwan, this land gave me security. So, I used Taiwanese orchids to celebrate and to be an expression for my love and gratitude for this land. We also have a light collection to express a woman’s power and the glory—Starlight and Sunlight, different collections. We also have the "Waterdrop", the white jadeite to express my feelings because I also believe every woman has her purest part.

Before launching her brand, Chen practiced law. But her deep love for jewelry led her to leave her legal career and pursue design full-time. Five years ago, she launched her brand in Taiwan. She developed a patented 3D irregular hand-cutting technique for jadeite.

Tracey Chen
Jewelry brand founder
I happened to meet with a big vendor of the jadeite. I think maybe I can do some effort to change people’s impression about jadeite because we used to think that jadeite was worn by senior ladies. No, it is not true. It can actually be presented in a modern way. I bought a raw stone. I cut a raw stone, I ground a raw stone with different craftsman. Every piece of the raw stone needs to be cut, grind and be completed by at least four to craftsman. It is a long journey from being an attorney to a jewelry designer and eventually building up my brand. It is a long process of asking questions with yourself. Long process. Sometimes a struggling, but yet humbling process of knowing what you need and what you want and what you are capable of.

Through her creations, Chen hopes to inspire others to embrace their inner light, strength and live authentically.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#jewelry #design #careeradvice #Taiwan #orchids #beautiful #beauty #lawyer

2025-11-25

Taiwan inaugurates UN-level test for search-and-rescue dogs

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on Tuesday attended the inauguration ceremony of international-level Mission Readiness Test, or MRT for search-and-rescue dogs at the National Fire Agency Training Center in Nantou. A dog that passes the MRT can operate at the UN level, which usually takes two to three years of attentive training. Though Hsiao is more of a cat person, she still delighted in playing with one of the dogs.

A trainer takes a search-and-rescue dog onstage. This is the inauguration of Taiwan’s national Mission Readiness Test, or MRT. The dogs remain calm onstage even with an audience.

Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim holds a chicken drumstick-shaped toy, which immediately made a dog light up.

Hsiao orders the dog to sit down. She rewards it with the toy.

Hsiao Bi-khim
Vice President
Everyone thinks I’m a cat person, but 20 years ago when I was a lawmaker, I helped establish a platform for adopting retired military dogs. Each of the 20 search-and rescue dogs featured today has their own story and honor. They’ve participated in various search-and-rescue missions and fully embody the spirit of “Taiwan can help.”

The vice president may prefer cats, but she’s generous in praising the canine heroes. Over the years, they’ve helped find survivors among rubble after an earthquake. It’s also not easy for a dog to become certified on an international level. Training usually takes two to three years.

Kao Chien-tai
Nat’l Fire Dept. search-and-rescue team
Training a dog is like raiding a toddler. You must stay attentive at all times. You must also accompany the dog throughout training. For a dog trained by me, it takes around two to three years before it could take part in a certification exam at this level.

The firefighter says training a dog for search-and-rescue missions requires him to be as attentive as he would a toddler. But without a common language, it likely takes even more.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#dogs #cutedogs #animals #cuteanimals #searchandrescue #certification #smartanimals #cute

2025-11-25

Former Hsinchu County representative gives NT$3.6M for Japanese tourism

2025-11-25