Greater Kaohsiung's Merger Initiatives 縣市合併建立高雄品牌
Greater Kaohsiung's Merger Initiatives
◎English written by Fang-Ju Lin ◎Photos by Kang Cun-cai and Pao Chung-hui
Kaohsiung was once a city that was badly polluted by heavy industry. However, it is currently transforming itself into one of Taiwan's leading cities that offers a greater quality of life. The merger commences on December 25, 2010 and will carry out several initiatives that will greatly improve the region's economic viability.
One of the initiatives will include a closer partnership of Greater Kaohsiung and its port. With the rise of China's southeastern harbors and the construction of larger vessels, Port of Kaohsiung lost its place as one of the world's leading ports. Further exasperating this problem was the fact its waters were not deep enough to accommodate vessels that were getting ever increasingly larger. However with the relocation of Hongmaogan village and plans to extend operations, this problem will now be resolved. Kaohsiung will also plans to construct an international container terminal.
Kaohsiung City and County have been cooperating for a long period of time. However, with the rise of a consolidated metropolis of 2946 square kilometers and a population of 2.77 million, focus will be on the area's strengths and competitive resources. Greater Kaohsiung will further develop its agriculture, fisheries and services. This will be supported by the regions well developed air and sea ports, transforming Kaohsiung into Taiwan's leading gateway.
The port is also expected to play a central role in the region's other development initiatives. Part of this initiative is to strengthen the region's cultural development and commerce. It will focus on a special trade zone adjacent to Pier One. This zone will include the Pier-2 Arts Center, the Maritime Culture and Popular Music Center, the cruise boat dock, the world famous industrial park for yacht construction, the International Travel and Commerce Center and the Exhibition and Convention Center. It will also include the development of the South Star Area, an enormous manufacturing hub, which will be extended to include Daliao, Niaosong, Renwu and the yacht manufacturing zone. It will further develop its innovation and technology corridor. Located in Lujhu, Kaohsiung's Science Park will eventually integrate Gangshan and Nanzih. Solar power technology and other high tech industries will be central to the developmental of this area.
These competitive initiatives are designed to draw Greater Kaohsiung and its port closer. The port is presently administered by the Executive Yuan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Greater Kaohsiung has drafted a proposal to have the dual air and sea ports managed by private corporations that will be overseen by a board of directors that include Greater Kaohsiung and the Executive Yuan.
After the merger there will be a greater focus on the city-port integration. It will aim to improve urban functionality and establish a brand of its own. These initiatives will provide support and give rise to an internationally recognized region that will maintain its competitiveness in an ever increasingly, globalized world.
縣市合併建立高雄品牌
◎文／惡之花 ◎攝影／康村財．鮑忠暉
高雄市早期因發展重工業導致環境遭受污染、破壞，近年來，努力轉型成為適合居住的城市，更蛻變成全國環境力第一的城市，2009年成功舉辦世界運動會，打開高雄的國際知名度，2010年12月25日縣市合併，開啟大高雄新紀元。
縣市合併後的大高雄與高雄港關係更加密切，高雄港近年來面臨中國東南沿海各港口的崛起，以及受到船舶大型化發展的影響，國際競爭力受到挑戰。然而，完成紅毛港遷村，讓洲際貨櫃中心與南星計劃區能順利動工，可望解決深水碼頭不足的最根本問題。
長久以來，高雄縣市即是一個共同生活圈。透過縣市合併整合為單一行政區，將形成一個土地面積2946平方公里，人口數達277萬人的大都會。縣市合併後將發揮截長補短的效果，而城市規模的擴大有助於提升競爭力。未來的大高雄，農漁業、工業與服務業三大產業兼備，且擁有海空雙港的優勢，可望成為台灣最重要的門戶城市。
縣市合併後的大高雄，在產業經濟發展競爭力的提升，關鍵仍在於港、市關係。高雄市政府在大高雄產業布局上已提出三大競爭力產業軸線，其中「文創經貿特區」緊鄰高雄港第一港區，包含駁二、海洋文化與流行音樂中心、郵輪碼頭與遊艇專區、港務局旅運中心（國際旅運服務與商業中心）與世貿會展中心；「自由貿易運籌中心」以高雄港第二港區與南星計畫區為核心，向大寮、鳥松、仁武延伸，形成龐大的生產基地，國際聞名的遊艇製造業就在其中；「創新科技走廊」以路竹高雄科學園區為中心，結合岡山、楠梓等區，全力發展太陽能光電等高科技產業。
目前高雄港仍隸屬行政院交通部，未來有朝公司化改制的計劃，高雄市政府也已經主動向立法院提出「海空雙港條例」草案，建議高雄港公司化的董事會應開放地方政府參與，在縣市合併後繼續追求港市合一，完備城市的機能，建立高雄品牌，迎向全球化國際城市競爭。