Planning for New Memorial Hall
Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou attended the ceremony for the planning office of the Taiwan New Culture Movement Hall on October 17. The event also served as a press announcement for a special exhibition on the struggle for nationalism during the Japanese rule of Taiwan at the Datong Police Station. The planning office is currently located in the Datong Police Station. When the police force stationed in the building moves to a new location in approximately three years time, the building will become the home of Taiwan New Culture Movement. To celebrate the establishment of the planning office, the Department of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) also organized a special exhibition commemorating the Movement during the Japanese colonial rule of the island. Currently, the exhibition is located on the third floor of Datong Police Station. During his speech, Mayor Ma noted that DOCA arranged the date of the ceremony to coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the Taiwan Cultural Association 85 years ago. The organization was an important member of the Taiwan New Culture Movement during the Japanese colonial era. The descendents of the association’s founding fathers also attended the event. Ma noted that he is glad for the establishment of the hall, as it will allow future generations to understand how historical figures such as Chiang Wei-shui and Lin Hsien-tang stood up against oppression to establish the Taiwan Cultural Association. The organization was created with the goal of pursuing more political representation for the local populace. The mayor acknowledged that there had been many exhibitions which focused on these revolutionaries by organizations such as the 228 Memorial Hall. However, he believed that it will mean even more if a building dedicated to this subject could be established in Dadaocheng, a gathering place for intellectuals and activists during the era. Through the efforts of DOCA and the help by Datong’s police force, the planning office was able to finally secure a location. The new site dates back to the Japanese colonial period; its cellar once imprisoned activists and revolutionaries, including Chiang himself. Three sons of the association co-founder Liao Chin-ping and the descendants of Chiang Wei-shu donated several items of historical value for the hall’s collection. Mayor Ma accepted the gifts on behalf of the Taiwan New Culture Movement Hall and expressed his gratitude for their generosity.