Chunghsing Village is unique in Tai-wan. Built to serve politics, its future development will be determined by politics.

It is a December morning in 1998, not even 8:00 a.m., and on the tree-lined streets of Chunghsing Village's Kuanghua and Kuangjung districts, already couples are posing for wedding pictures, and provincial government employees are making their way to work on shuttle buses or motorcycles. Just three months ago nearly 1,000 provincial government employees traveled to Taipei. In tears, they burned their KMT party membership cards and appealed in front of the media's cameras for fair treatment. But today, that excited drama seems to have receded, and on the eve of provincial government streamlining, workers continue to work and live as always. It is a picture of calm and tranquility. Personnel Department director Wu Yau-fong calls the transformation "a quiet revolution."

Even iron yamen fall!

But beneath the quiet surface, people still have a hard time keeping strong emotions inside. "Who would have believed that so much would happen over such a short time!" Wu Yau-fong is clearly upset by the provincial government streamlining. Wu, a teacher who has long specialized in "government restructuring," never imagined that his own organization would end up the target of restructuring efforts. Wu, aged 50, might get ready to retire after leading his Personnel Department through the transitional period of provincial government streamlining.

"The old saying goes: 'Officials come and go, but yamen [government offices in feudal China] are made of iron.' Well, these days even yamen made of iron can fall!" So says Wang Yi-fei, commissioner of the Taiwan Provincial Police Department (TPPD), with a touch of humor. He relates that the Taiwan Provincial Police Administration (TPPA) was formerly incorporated into the National Police Administration (NPA). But three or four years ago the Taiwan Provincial Assembly ordered the relocation of the TPPA from Taipei to Taichung and its reorganization into a provincial government department. At the time he opposed the plan. He explains, "From the perspective of police administrative efficiency in terms of command and regional coordination, the arrangement under a single administration-in effect one set of personnel handling dual duties-is easier to implement." Yet his suggestion was not heeded, and today the TPPD is on the verge of being dismantled, after which it will likely be incorporated back into the NPA. All the mergers and separations have affected the personnel of the TPPD most profoundly. For instance, having had to relocate to Taichung, many department employees only recently sold their homes in Taipei and settled down in Taichung. Now, they must reverse the whole process. One department employee wondered aloud, "Do you think we can buy our houses back?"

Ever since word of provincial government streamlining reached Chunghsing Village, the seat of the provincial government, a feeling of uncertainty has pervaded the community. "The atmosphere is the complete opposite of four years ago when the first popularly elected provincial governor took office," relates an employee at the Provincial Assembly Secretariat. At that heady time, provincial government workers were filled with confidence about the work ahead. After all, many provincial government programs, such as flood prevention, were mapped out to cover five or ten years. Then, when the provincial government downsizing plan was announced, "We put long-term plans aside and turned to the short-term ones," says Chao Kang, former director of the Provincial Fire Department. For instance, the department had planned to purchase helicopters to aid in relief of air disasters and other emergencies. Instead, they ended up doing educational and promotional work on emergency rescue methods for mentally retarded children.

A thoroughly planned community

A high proportion of provincial government employees are bona fide civil servants. Thus, given the central government's downsizing policy, "we wouldn't think of disobeying it," one provincial government official relates. Not to mention the rather appealing package proposed by the central government for provincial government workers following streamlining. "To be honest, we really shouldn't complain," says another provincial government official. Yet provincial government workers care even more about how the central government feels about them. "If the provincial government is inefficient, then how come the Executive Yuan recognizes us with 'model unit' awards year after year?" a Water Conservancy Bureau employee asks.

Since news of the downsizing first broke, provincial government workers at all levels, from section chiefs down to janitors and drivers, have more or less been on the lookout for new arrangements. Although Personnel Department director Wu Yau-fong states that overall staff turnover has not risen compared to previous years, whenever openings are available in the central government or local governments (especially in locations such as Taichung county or city), some department-level officials happily accept reassignment, even to lower level positions.

For provincial government headquarters employees in agencies at the top level, many years or decades have been spent working at Chunghsing Village. Some families have even lived in government housing there for several generations. When discussion turns to the fate of assorted public facilities and property, such as the plants and trees in the village, they become quite sentimental. "The Provincial Department of Public Management used to spend a good deal of money to look after these things, but who will they belong to in the future?" asks Chen Yu, a Department of Information section chief, and a member of a family which has been employed in the provincial government for two generations.

Chunghsing Village was planned and created by the central government. Hsieh Tung-min, secretary-general at the Taiwan Provincial Government Secretariat, was assigned to oversee the planning process in 1955 by Yen Chia-kan, the fifth governor of Taiwan Province. Hsieh Tung-min, a native of Erhshui in Changhua County and a graduate of Taichung's First Senior High School, was a logical candidate in view of his familiarity with central Taiwan. Senior provincial government reporter Yu Ju-chi, who witnessed the provincial government's move to Nantou, describes the area around Chunghsing Village: "To the front is the Maoluo Creek, to the side are the Hushan Mountains, and below is a plain where you can see farmers planting tobacco, vegetables and other crops. The area enjoys an excellent climate, good soil and drinking water, and is rarely affected by typhoons." Indeed, Hsieh Tung-min demonstrated singular wisdom in his selection of this excellent location.

Chunghsing Village was modeled after English communities. Over 40 years ago, it was unique in Taiwan for its waste water treatment and rain water drainage systems, its specially planted camphor trees, bodhi trees, and assorted grasses and plants, giving the entire village plentiful greenery and shade. Within the administrative zone, each department had a freestanding office building, a plush lawn, and was embraced by venerable old trees on all sides, striking a uniquely tranquil setting among Taiwan's government agencies.

Public facilities in the village are first-rate, including three primary schools, a junior high school, a senior high school, an employee day care center, an employee discount store, traditional fruit and vegetable markets, restaurants, athletic fields, a golf driving range, a public swimming pool, a library, a cinema, a hospital, and even a funeral home. Chen Yu remarks, "From birth to death, the village provided everything."

In comparison with other communities in Taiwan, Chunghsing Village probably has more direct memories of government development. Early in the village's development, the office buildings were cubical structures that looked like classrooms. Chen Yu explains, "When they first built the office buildings, since they didn't intend to stay long, they built them so that when they were no longer used as offices they could be converted into classrooms. What's more, given the lack of funds at the time, that was all they could manage." Old bishopwood trees grow up one side of the Chunghsing Hospital, shading the area below. It is said that over 40 years ago Hsieh Tung-min and governor Yen Chia-kan sat there in the shade and discussed the government's move to Nantou. Today, visitors come to Chunghsing Village to enjoy a tree-lined oasis rare in urban Taiwan, and a taste of the atmosphere at the seat of the Taiwan provincial government.

Uncertainty mixes with hope for future

The Taiwan provincial government is destined to change. Newly appointed governor Chao Shou-po has repeatedly asserted that certain provincial government agencies will be restructured as central Taiwan service centers under the Executive Yuan, and various central government agencies will relocate from Taipei, thus ensuring that Chunghsing Village land and facilities will continue to be put to good use and preventing the community's decay with the transformation of the provincial government. Nevertheless, such assurances have not prevented the spread of all sorts of rumors throughout the community on the government's future plans.

The asking price for a three-story stand-alone house near Chunghsing Junior High School, formerly worth NT$6 million, has dropped by 20 percent. As in many new developments with a "guaranteed quality of life," "for sale cheap" signs can be seen on many of Chunghsing Village's homes. According to government regulations on civil servant housing, residents who have occupied government housing since 1983 or earlier may continue to reside there until the death of a spouse. In addition, the village's excellent quality of life and comprehensive public facilities have made it the choice for many retired provincial government workers to settle down and live out the rest of their years. According to a survey by Chunghsing Senior High School teacher Chang Li-ho, the number of elderly citizens in Chunghsing Village is more than double the average for the rest of Taiwan. Thus it still remains unclear whether the village's elderly population will be able to continue to live there after the reorganization of the provincial government. Frustrated, a provincial government employee comments, "I suppose we'll have to see how the political wind blows."

Nevertheless, we can be sure that when the dust settles, today's anxiety and frustration will disappear, and the elegant charms of this community will be recounted by generation after generation.

p.18

The gray roof tiles of the charming houses surrounded by mango trees make a quaint picture. The majority of residents in Chunghsing Village, the seat of the provincial government since its relocation in 1955, consist of employees of the provincial government. The community benefits from excellent planning and facilities, and many civil servants here have enjoyed decades graced by the simple community lifestyle.

p.19

This is an aerial view of the Kuangjung District shortly after the establishment of Chunghsing Village. The area at the upper left is the Chunghsing Auditorium, which was used for monthly provincial government mobilization meetings, weekly meetings of the Provincial Chunghsing Senior High School, exhibitions, evening movies and Christmas parties. In this picture, the outlines of a fully realized "garden community" are visible. (courtesy of Taiwan Film Culture Company)

p.20

The unique octagonal four-story Science Building on the Chunghsing Senior High School campus, designed by noted architect Hsiu Tze-lan, has become a village landmark. Many school alumni probably still recall chemistry teacher Wang Pao-chien, nicknamed "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," conducting experiments in the science building. The elegance of the building's lines is testimony that art can be created with rebars and cement.

p.21

Graced with plentiful greenery and shade trees, Chunghsing Village seems conducive to a relaxed lifestyle. Quite a few gray hairs can be spotted among those practicing martial arts in this square. According to a survey by Chunghsing Senior High School teacher Chang Li-ho, elderly citizens account for 19% of the village population, over twice the islandwide average.

The unique octagonal four-story Science Building on the Chunghsing Senior High School campus, designed by noted architect Hsiu Tze-lan, has become a village landmark. Many school alumni probably still recall chemistry teacher Wang Pao-chien, nicknamed "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," conducting experiments in the science building . The elegance of the building's lines is testimony that art can be created with rebars and cement.

Graced with plentiful greenery and shade trees, Chunghsing Village seems conducive to a relaxed lifestyle. Quite a few gray hairs can be spotted among those practicing martial arts in this square. According to a survey by Chunghsing Senior High School teacher Chang Li-ho, elderly citizens account for 19% of the village population, over twice t he islandwide average.