CITY-HARBOR MERGER Dreams Come True/市港合一 海洋首都圓夢
Kaohsiung Harbor's advantageous geographical location has made it one of the biggest container harbors in the world. However, as global competition is intensifying, both Kaohsiung industries and harbor operation demand upgrading. The "city-harbor merger" represents a crucial step toward achieving such results.
Responding to the long and widespread demand for city-harbor merger from Kaohsiung all parties, the Cabinet ratified the "International Commercial Harbor Management Commission Establishment Guidelines" on May 9. The Kaohsiung Harbor Management Commission is headed by Mayor Hsieh, and the membership consists of supervisors from KCG, MOTC and the Kaohsiung Harbor Bureau, representatives from three other harbors that fall under the administration of the Harbor Bureau, and scholars or experts.
The city-harbor merger of Kaohsiung will greatly influence the city development. The plan will have to consider how to streamline harbor management, map out urban spaces and facilitate transharboration. It will definitely benefit the prosperity of both Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung Harbor.
Though currently the city-harbor merger policy is implemented by establishing a management commission, chaired by Mayor Hsieh, this is the first time the KCG is able to take part in decision-making and planning concerning Kaohsiung Harbor's operation and development. The commission can also avoid the conflicts between policies made and their execution, which often occurred when all the harbor affairs were under the authority of the ministry.
5月19日高雄市政府舉辦一項歡迎高雄港回娘家的活動，行政院長張俊雄及交通部葉菊蘭兼程南下，為高雄市帶來「市港合一」的好消息，6月15日高雄港管理委員會正式掛牌成立，由謝市長出任主委，「海洋首都」的夢想又往前進邁進一大步。
高雄港開埠以來因為優越的地理位置而成為名列前茅的貨櫃大港，在面對激烈的國際競爭環境下，高雄市、港同時面臨產業及經營體質轉型的階段，而「市港合一」正是高雄港脫胎換骨的契機。
5月9日行政院通過交通部所提的「國際商港管理委員會設置要點」，回應高雄市各界長期以來對市港合一的訴求，在港務專業和高雄市建設的雙重考量下，高雄港管理委員會由市長謝長廷出任主委，委員囊括了市府、交通部、港務局及輔助港口的代表及學者專家，為「市港合一」跨出第一步。
市港合一對高雄市而言，不僅是都市發展的問題，在地方上也形成倍受關注的政治議題，它不但牽涉到港埠的經營效率、都市空間的規劃、和交通的整合，歷屆市長對市港合一的爭取，也充滿了南、北及省、市的政治拉鋸，但不可否認的，市港合一對高雄市、港建設整合絕對有積極正面的效益。
雖然市港合一現階段仍以成立管理委員會，但這已經是高雄市第一次能夠參與高雄市、港的決策和規劃，在層級上遠遠超過過去行之有年的「港市協調會報」的機制，更突破了因行政院機構隸屬的問題，形成決策和執行面迂迴不前的難題。
高雄市政府爭取市港合一的說帖裡歸納了數十年來高雄市各界對市港合一關切的焦點，包括事權統一，管理一元化；都市規劃的整體考量；交通系統整體規劃；醫療防疫有效掌握；公共安全週延完整、環境污染有效管理；觀光資源的綜合規劃；災難搶救落實；商港漁港均衡發展等，都是市港合一後可具體落實的計劃目標。