A subcontractor that allegedly broke the law in the surprise partial demolition of the Agenna Shipyard in Keelung said that it planned to repurpose the area to enhance the city’s tourism beltway, with the demolition taking place to remove buildings that posed a threat to the public.
The shipyard was recently brought to public attention due to the 2014 filming of a trailer for Call of Duty Online, part of the first-person shooting game franchise Call of Duty, starring US actor Chris Evans, who is best known for his portrayal of the lead role in the Captain America movie franchise.
The subcontractor, which leased the land from Taiwan Sugar Co (Taisugar, 台糖) in 2008, allegedly violated Article 86 of the Building Act (建築法) when it moved two excavators to the site on Monday afternoon to remove the ruins.
Photo: Lin Hsin-han, Taipei Times
Article 86-3 stipulates that the unauthorized removal of buildings can result in a maximum fine of NT$10,000.
The subcontractor’s representative, Hsu Shu-ming (許書銘), said it had conducted inspections of the ruins and deemed them too old to be directly repurposed, adding that the demolition was aimed at making the area safer, especially following the magnitude 6.4 earthquake on Feb. 6.
The original plan was to keep the shipyard and open a theme restaurant nearby, but the ruins, while eligible for reinforcing, might have become rotten inside, which would have greatly increased overheads and posed a safety risk, Hsu said, adding that plans were later stalled when the city government was considering building a light-rail system nearby.
Photo: Lin Hsin-han, Taipei Times
Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang (林右昌) on Monday night on Facebook condemned the demolition and rejected the notion that the city government had knowledge of the subcontractor’s plans.
Anyone that shows so much disrespect for local buildings and their historical significance should be condemned, Lin said.
Lin said the city government would fine the subcontractor, as it did not apply for a permit to remove or demolish the building.
The city government has also demanded that the subcontractor cease all demolition work and apply for a permit, Lin said, adding that the city would do its utmost to preserve an “important remnant of Keelung’s early industry.”
Although the ruins are on private property, they are still an important part of the city’s history and should be conserved, Lin said, adding with regret that Monday’s abrupt demolition work might have marred the bright future repurposing could have given the shipyard.
However, the shipyard has not been named a historical heritage site and sits on land owned by Taisugar, which obtained it from now-defunct Taiwan Metals Mining Co (台金公司).
Meanwhile, Taisugar department of public relations director Liu Tsung-hsien (劉宗憲) said that the company had made clear to the subcontractor the parameters for development of the site.
There are no plans to develop the land around the shipyard’s ruins, Liu said, adding that Taisugar would release more information after clarifying details with the subcontractor.
The shipyard, next to Heping Bridge (和平橋), which connects Keelung and Heping Island (和平島), was originally owned and used by Japanese companies during the Japanese colonial era to expedite the transportation of gold from the Jinguashih (金瓜石) area in what is now New Taipei City. It derives its name from a US yacht manufacturing firm that had leased the property from Taiwan Metals Mining.
Taiwan is projected to lose a working-age population of about 6.67 million people in two waves of retirement in the coming years, as the nation confronts accelerating demographic decline and a shortage of younger workers to take their place, the Ministry of the Interior said. Taiwan experienced its largest baby boom between 1958 and 1966, when the population grew by 3.78 million, followed by a second surge of 2.89 million between 1976 and 1982, ministry data showed. In 2023, the first of those baby boom generations — those born in the late 1950s and early 1960s — began to enter retirement, triggering
ECONOMIC BOOST: Should the more than 23 million people eligible for the NT$10,000 handouts spend them the same way as in 2023, GDP could rise 0.5 percent, an official said Universal cash handouts of NT$10,000 (US$330) are to be disbursed late next month at the earliest — including to permanent residents and foreign residents married to Taiwanese — pending legislative approval, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday. The Executive Yuan yesterday approved the Special Act for Strengthening Economic, Social and National Security Resilience in Response to International Circumstances (因應國際情勢強化經濟社會及民生國安韌性特別條例). The NT$550 billion special budget includes NT$236 billion for the cash handouts, plus an additional NT$20 billion set aside as reserve funds, expected to be used to support industries. Handouts might begin one month after the bill is promulgated and would be completed within
The National Development Council (NDC) yesterday unveiled details of new regulations that ease restrictions on foreigners working or living in Taiwan, as part of a bid to attract skilled workers from abroad. The regulations, which could go into effect in the first quarter of next year, stem from amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法) passed by lawmakers on Aug. 29. Students categorized as “overseas compatriots” would be allowed to stay and work in Taiwan in the two years after their graduation without obtaining additional permits, doing away with the evaluation process that is currently required,
NO CHANGE: The TRA makes clear that the US does not consider the status of Taiwan to have been determined by WWII-era documents, a former AIT deputy director said The American Institute in Taiwan’s (AIT) comments that World War-II era documents do not determine Taiwan’s political status accurately conveyed the US’ stance, the US Department of State said. An AIT spokesperson on Saturday said that a Chinese official mischaracterized World War II-era documents as stating that Taiwan was ceded to the China. The remarks from the US’ de facto embassy in Taiwan drew criticism from the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, whose director said the comments put Taiwan in danger. The Chinese-language United Daily News yesterday reported that a US State Department spokesperson confirmed the AIT’s position. They added that the US would continue to
RSS