Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) attended the Yimin Festival at Baozhong Yimin Temple in Hsinchu on Friday, celebrating the memorial day to honor Hakka volunteer soldiers who fought in Taiwan during the Qing dynasty. Cho praised the Hakka spirit of loyalty, righteousness and diligence, emphasizing the importance of promoting Hakka values and passing them on to the next generations.
Premier Cho said the government has invested NT$240 million (US$7.5 million) for Romantic Route 3, a program aimed at reviving Hakka culture. Cho also mentioned the Executive Yuan has allocated NT$480 million (US$15 million) for programs to revitalize Hakka villages, introducing Hakka culture to the world.
The Hakka people are one of the main ethnic groups in Taiwan with over 4.5 million members, accounting for about 20% of the population. Hakka people immigrated to Taiwan in the 17th century from Guangdong Province, China. Taiwanese Hakka is one of the official languages in Taiwan, alongside Mandarin, Taiwanese Hokkien and Indigenous languages.
Speaking at the event, Premier Cho expressed his deep respect for the resilience of the Hakka people, noting that throughout different eras, they have always produced patriots and martyrs who have defended the nation. Hakka people have also made remarkable contributions in various fields such as politics, culture, and sports.
Although Hakka is a minority group, Cho emphasized that in Taiwan all cultures and languages are equal. He vowed that the government will work to preserve and promote the different languages of Taiwan, adhering to the principle of patriotism and serving the people.