General Chamber of Commerce chairman: Lai Cheng-I designated

The General Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday a reference list of candidates for the election of the next board of directors and supervisors. Lai Cheng-I, chairman of Xianglin Construction, is confirmed as the "designated" next chairman, while Wang Ying-Chieh, chairman of Eastern Broadcasting Real Estate, will remain convener of the board of supervisors, bringing the contest for chairman to a "peaceful" conclusion.

Lai Cheng-I expressed his gratitude and promised to provide better services to the business community.

The National General Chamber of Commerce was originally due to hold its re-election in early May this year. Because Eastern Broadcasting Group president Wang Ling-Lin received a final criminal conviction, Wang Ying-Chieh and Lai Cheng-I stepped forward to compete instead, with neither side giving way and the contest intense.

General Chamber of Commerce chairman Chang Ping-Chao said that the 13th was the last joint meeting of the board of directors and supervisors for the current term, and that the reference list for the next board of directors and supervisors was approved by a round of applause from the directors and supervisors.

However, unlike previous practice, although the next term's list "designates" Lai Cheng-I as the next chairman, Chang Ping-Chao still appears first on the list.

Wang Ying-Chieh said that the service industry accounts for 70% of Taiwan's economy, and the General Chamber of Commerce cannot become stuck in a blue-green deadlock like the Legislative Yuan. Therefore, at this critical moment, he decided to yield for the sake of unity.