PFP Legislator Hwang Yih-jiau (
It wasn't so much the appointment itself that had the media pursuing Hwang, but a poison-pen letter sent to a local media organization alleging that Hwang has a record of adultery.
PHOTO: SEAN CHAO, TAIPEI TIMES
The letter bore the signature of Huang Kuang-chin (
In a book by Huang, The Baby's Diary, Huang disclosed the love affair between her and Hwang and penned Hwang to have had numerous mistresses, nicknamed his "babies."
The letter accused Hwang of abandoning Huang when she was pregnant with his child and accuses him of calling her "a whore whom all men could have sex with."
However, on Tuesday, Huang claimed that she had not written the letter and that she did not know who had.
Hwang dismissed the letter as a dirty trick.
"I don't want to surmise about the motives of the person who wrote the letter," Hwang said, adding that no matter who the author was, he was ready to forgive.
Media comment on his private life is nothing to to Hwang, whose chaotic love live five years ago caused a stir.
In early 1998, TV personality Clara Chou (
Aside from giving newspapers a tell-all account of how Hwang tossed her aside for Ho, Chou also made frequent appearances on talk shows five years ago and hosted press conferences on the issue. Chou said Hwang was married when their affair began and that he forced both Chou and Ho to have abortions when they became pregnant.
Hwang brushed aside Chou's accusations, saying that "they have different interpretations of feelings."
Demotion
Unable to ignore the public uproar, however, then Taiwan provincial governor James Soong (
Hwang's marriage ended in divorce after his wife, Cheng Chua-yueh (
According to Chinese-language media, after being in a relationship for the past five years, Hwang and Ho parted company last month.
Hwang, 50, earned a bachelor's degree in education information from Tamkang University and a masters in Sino-US relations from Chinese Cultural University.
During his more than a decade with the Government Information Office (GIO), Hwang served as chief of the North America section of the office's international department and as an information secretary stationed in Washington before joining the Taiwan Provincial Government under Soong.
Former mover
and shaker
Before the alleged adultery cast a shadow over his political career, Hwang, known for confidence and eloquence, was regarded as a high-profile politician.
Staging a successful comeback, Hwang, with Ho as his close campaign aide, was elected as a legislator for Taichung City in December 1998 and managed to win a second term in 2001.
Hwang also served as a close campaign aide to Soong when Soong was running his own maverick campaign in the 2000 presidential election.
Although Hwang's love life has made his appointment controversial, his party comrades expressed confidence in Hwang's competence as party spokesman.
"The poison-pen letter was simply an attempt to block Hwang's appointment," said deputy convener of the PFP legislative caucus Chiu Yi (
Endorsement
PFP Legislator Lee Hung-chun (李鴻鈞) said that he is confidence in Hwang's performance as spokesman.
"The job of a party spokesman is to put forward party statements correctly and honestly," Lee said. "Being a former spokesperson for the Taiwan Provincial Government, I think Hwang's got the skills needed for the job."
Lee said he doubts Hwang's alleged transgressions would bring a negative image to the party.
"Hwang has taken on introspection after that event," Lee said. "I think stuff like that won't be a bother now."
Saying that he is aware that public figures shoulder certain social responsibilities, Hwang said that it's understandable that public figures should be subject to examination by the outside world.
"I will apply a high standard to myself," he said. "I am willing and am well-prepared to take on outsiders' inspection of me."
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