Taipei Times
Date: , Jul 22, 2015
By: Aaron Tu and Chen Wei-han / Staff reporter, with staff writer
In a gesture of support, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) on Monday sent former Chinese
Former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislator Chi Kuo-tung points to a bitter gourd in an arrangement gifted to him by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Nationalist Party (KMT) Taipei City Councilor Yang Shih-chiu (楊實秋) and Taipei City Councilor Lee Ching-yuan (李慶元) each a basket of flowers and bitter gourds after they — along with three other outspoken critics of the party — were expelled by the KMT on Thursday last week.
Yang praised Ko’s initiative on Facebook, saying: “We have seen the cold-bloodedness of politicians, but we have also seen a politician’s warmth.”
It was the second time Ko had sent ex-KMT members a gift after their expulsion: He sent a similar basket to former legislator-at-large Chi Kuo-tung (紀國棟) — who lost his status as a lawmaker as a result of his expulsion — on Friday last week.
Taipei City Government adviser Hung Chi-kune (洪智坤) on Monday published photographs of the baskets sent to the three on Facebook, with a comment saying: “Ko’s bitter gourd is detoxifying and fights the heat. After the bitter comes the sweet.” [FULL STORY]
