Hou Yu-ih
Hou Yu-ih (Chinese: 侯友宜; pinyin: Hóu Yǒuyí; born 6 June 1956) is a Taiwanese politician and former police officer. He has been the incumbent mayor of New Taipei since 25 December 2018.[1] Previously, he served as Director-General of the National Police Agency from 2006 to 2008 and as acting mayor of New Taipei City from October 2015 to January 2016. He was the Kuomintang's official candidate for the 2024 Taiwanese presidential elections. He first joined the party during the leadership of Chiang Kai-shek.
Hou Yu-ih | |
|---|---|
侯友宜 | |
Official portrait, 2018 | |
| 2nd Mayor of New Taipei | |
| Assumed office 25 December 2018[a] | |
| Deputy | See list
|
| Preceded by | Eric Chu |
| Acting 20 October 2015 – 18 January 2016[b] | |
| Deputy | Chen Shen-hsien |
| Preceded by | Eric Chu |
| Succeeded by | Eric Chu |
| 1st Deputy Mayor of New Taipei | |
| In office 25 December 2010 – 28 February 2018 Serving with Lee Shu-chuan, Hsu Chih-chien and Chen Shen-hsien | |
| Mayor | Eric Chu |
| Preceded by | Position established[c] |
| Succeeded by | Lu Wei-chin |
| 17th President of the Central Police University | |
| In office 21 June 2008 – 24 December 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Hsieh Ing-dan |
| Succeeded by | Hsieh Hsiu-neng |
| 13th Director-General of the National Police Agency | |
| In office June 2006 – 20 June 2008 | |
| President | Chen Shui-bian Ma Ying-jeou |
| Preceded by | Hsieh Ing-dan |
| Succeeded by | Wang Cho-chiun |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 June 1956 Puzi, Taiwan |
| Political party | Kuomintang (1975–2002, 2013–present) Democratic Progressive Party (2002–2013) |
| Spouse | Jen Mei-ling |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Central Police University (BA) |
| Signature | |
Law enforcement career edit
Upon his graduation from the Central Police University, Hou was sent to the Taipei City Police Department. Hou obtained his first leadership role, as captain of the Taipei criminal police, in 1980.[2] In 1992, he became an inspector at the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB), a division of the National Police Agency (NPA). Five years later, he led the rescue of the Alexander family.[3] In 1998 Hou was named second in command of the CIB. He was given the concurrent post of Taoyuan County police chief in 2001 and promoted within the NPA in 2003, becoming the leader of the CIB.[4] The next year, Hou was tasked with investigating the March 19 shooting incident,[5] an assassination attempt on President Chen Shui-bian, a longtime friend.[6] He was named the director-general of the NPA in 2006, becoming the youngest leader of the police force at the time of his appointment.[7] During his tenure, the NPA was criticized for its inadequate response to the 2006 protests led by Shih Ming-teh.[8][9] Multiple Kuomintang politicians also wanted Hou to reopen the investigation on the 3-19 shooting incident. Arms dealer Tang Shou-yi, who had fled to Mainland China by August 2006, had recanted his confession, stating that it was coerced and therefore untrue.[10] Hou was named the president of Central Police University in 2008[11] and was replaced at the NPA by Wang Cho-chiun.[12]
Early political career edit
Hou originally joined the Kuomintang in 1974, but allowed his membership to lapse during his law enforcement career.[13][14] Hou was recruited to join the Democratic Progressive Party in 2002.[15] Eric Chu asked Hou to serve as deputy mayor of New Taipei City in 2010,[16] and Hou rejoined the Kuomintang in 2013.[14] Hou served as deputy mayor alongside Lee Shu-chuan and Hsu Chih-chien who left office on 25 February 2014 and 30 June 2014, respectively.[17][18][19] Later, Chen Shen-hsien was appointed to the deputy mayorship.[20] Hou was promoted from his previous position as deputy mayor on 20 October 2015, as Chu prepared for the 2016 presidential election.[21] Chu lost the election to Tsai Ing-wen, and resumed mayoral duties on 18 January 2016.[22]
Mayor of New Taipei (2018–) edit
Elections edit
2018 edit
Hou resigned from the deputy mayorship on 28 February 2018, stating that he would contest the Kuomintang mayoral primary.[23][24] On 6 April 2018, the KMT announced that Hou had won the primary.[25][26]
| 2018 Kuomintang New Taipei City mayoral primary results[27] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Place | Results | ||
| Hou Yu-ih | Nominated | 55.596% | ||
| Chou Hsi-wei | 2nd | 34.210% | ||
| Ching Chieh-shou | 3rd | 10.194% | ||
Hou emerged as the winner of the 2018 New Taipei mayoral elections.
| 2018 New Taipei City mayoral results[28][29] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage | |
| 1 | Su Tseng-chang | Democratic Progressive Party | 873,692 | 42.85% | |
| 2 | Hou Yu-ih | Kuomintang | 1,165,130 | 57.15% | |
| Total voters | 3,264,128 | ||||
| Valid votes | 2,038,822 | ||||
| Invalid votes | 50,305 | ||||
| Voter turnout | 62.46% | ||||
2022 edit
On August 17, 2022, Hou confirmed that he would run for a second term as mayor of New Taipei.[30]
| 2022 New Taipei City mayoral results | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage | |
| 1 | Lin Chia-lung | Democratic Progressive Party | 693,976 | 37.58% | |
| 2 | Hou Yu-ih | Kuomintang | 1,152,555 | 62.42% | |
| Total voters | 3,316,517 | ||||
| Valid votes | 1,877,186 | ||||
| Invalid votes | 30,655 | ||||
| Voter turnout | 56.60% | ||||
2024 presidential election edit
Prior to the 2024 presidential election, Hou was considered the favorite for the Kuomintang presidential primary.[31] He was drafted by the Kuomintang on 17 May 2023 to be its nominee for the presidency.[32][33]
On 15 November 2023, KMT and Taiwan People's Party leadership announced that they would field a single joint presidential ticket made up of Hou and TPP chairman Ko Wen-je. The order was to be determined by opinion polls and publicly announced on 18 November,[34] but the parties were unable to reach an agreement on that date.[35] Hou officially registered his candidacy with running mate Jaw Shaw-kong on 24 November 2023, ending the possibility of a joint ticket.[36] Hou conceded the presidential election to Lai Ching-te on 13 January 2024.[37][38] Shortly after Hou lost the presidential election, netizens began efforts to recall him from the New Taipei mayoralty.[39]
Personal life edit
Hou was born on 7 June 1957, in Puzi, Chiayi County, where his family owned a pork stall. As a child Hou aided the family business by catching and butchering wild pigs.[2]
Hou's firstborn son Hou Ni-wei died on 15 May 1992, in a tour bus fire,[40][41][42] which killed 23 people.[43] He and his wife Jen Mei-ling raised three daughters, Hou Yu-fan, Hou Ni-chia, and Hou Yu-chia.[44][45]
Notes edit
- ^ Liu Ho-jan served as acting mayor from 24 September 2023 to 14 January 2024 during Hou's presidential campaign.
- ^ Hou served as acting mayor during Chu's presidential campaign.
- ^ Lee Shu-chuan as Deputy Magistrate of Taipei County
References edit
- ^ "市長 侯友宜". New Taipei City Government (in Chinese). Taiwan. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ a b Yeh, Joseph (23 August 2023). "FEATURE/From popular mayor to ho-hum candidate, KMT's Hou struggles to gain traction". Central News Agency. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
- ^ Paulo, Derrick (10 November 2019). "Inside the sensational 1997 hostage crisis that rocked Taiwan". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ Chuang, Jimmy (23 June 2003). "Super cop shines as new commissioner". Taipei Times. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ Young, H.T. (17 March 2006). "Where's debate on 319 probe heading?". China Post. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Fang, William (23 December 2010). "Hou more loyal to friends than nation". The China Post. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ "Hou Yu-ih becomes youngest-ever NPA director-general". Taipei Times. 28 February 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Chang, Rich; Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Ko, Shu-ling (21 September 2006). "Tainan police chief offers resignation over clashes". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Chang, Rich (18 September 2006). "Police under fire over scuffling". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan; Wang, Flora (6 December 2006). "KMT lawmakers want new probe into 319 shooting". Taipei Times. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ "Premier approves changes". Taipei Times. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
- ^ "Taipei police chief to head NPA". The China Post. 10 May 2008. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ 周, 毓翔 (1 March 2018). "新聞分析－成敗牽動國民黨轉型". China Times (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ a b "侯友宜回復國民黨籍 朱立倫：無政治考量". Newtalk (in Chinese). 25 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Chuang, Jimmy (16 July 2002). "NPA says officers free to join DPP". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Former police chief to be Chu's deputy". Taipei Times. 21 December 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- ^ Culpan, Tim (25 February 2014). "Former Google Executive Named Taiwan's First Technology Minister". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Tsai, P.C.; Lin, Lillian (26 November 2015). "Ex-New Taipei deputy mayor prosecuted for taking bribes". Central News Agency.
- ^ Pan, Jason (31 July 2015). "Hsu Chih-chien held in graft probe". Taipei Times. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ Hsiao, Alison (28 July 2014). "Ex-minister says he was victim of 'horrible system'". Taipei Times. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ Su, Justin and; Low, Y.F. (19 October 2015). "Eric Chu takes leave from mayoral duties". Central News Agency. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
- ^ Chiao, Yuan-Ming (19 January 2016). "KMT chairmanship vacated as Chu bows out". China Post. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
- ^ Liu, Lee-jung; Huang, Sunrise; Yen, William (28 February 2018). "New Taipei deputy mayor resigns to run for city's KMT candidate". Central News Agency. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ "New Taipei City deputy mayor to run for top job". Taipei Times. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
- ^ Strong, Matthew (6 April 2018). "Former Taiwan police chief wins KMT primary for New Taipei City mayor". Taiwan News. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
- ^ Hsu, Stacy (7 April 2018). "KMT wants Hou for New Taipei". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "國民黨新北初選民調曝光 55％：34％侯友宜大勝周錫瑋". Liberty Times Net (in Chinese). Taiwan. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
- ^ "2018 ー 107年直轄市長選舉". Central Election Commission (in Chinese). Taiwan. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
- ^ Teng, Pei-ju (August 17, 2022). "KMT mayors of New Taipei, Taichung to seek reelection". Central News Agency. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
- ^ Reuters. (5 April 2023). "Foxconn founder Gou to run for Taiwan presidency again". Al Jazeera English website Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- ^ "侯侯選總統／宣布了！朱立倫徵召侯友宜參選2024". United Daily News. 2023-05-17.
- ^ Shih, Hsiu-chuan (17 May 2023). "ELECTION 2024/New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih named as KMT presidential nominee". Central News Agency. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "ELECTION 2024/KMT, TPP to form joint presidential ticket based upon polling results". Focus Taiwan. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "ELECTION 2024/KMT, TPP back to stalemate on how to form joint presidential ticket". Focus Taiwan: CNA English News. 18 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ "Election 2024/KMT's Hou and newly named running mate Jaw Shau-kong register candidacy". Focus Taiwan: CNA English News. 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Yeh, Joseph (13 January 2024). "ELECTION 2024/KMT's Hou concedes defeat in Taiwan presidential election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Kao, Hua-chien; Chen, Christie (13 January 2024). "ELECTION 2024/KMT's Hou calls for national unity post-election". Central News Agency. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
- ^ Huang, Sunrise; Lee, Hsin-Yin (20 January 2024). "Campaign launched to recall New Taipei mayor after his failed presidential bid". Central News Agency. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "侯友宜喪子痛" (in Chinese). Chinese Television System. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "侯友宜悼亡兒 哽咽「一生至痛」". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 31 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "回顧：24年前幼稚園火燒車意外 她衝入火海..." China Times (in Chinese). 20 July 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "健康幼稚園意外15年 倖存學生現身" (in Chinese). TVBS. 15 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ "侯家千金年收千萬！侯：她們很努力". Yahoo! News Taiwan. SET News. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ 蘇岱崙 (23 July 2016). "侯友宜：深深痛過後，我學會放手". 親子天下雜誌 (in Chinese). Retrieved 19 June 2022.
External links edit
- Hou Yu-ih on Facebook