College of International Studies invited Hao Lung-pin, ex-Secretary of the Red Cross Society of the Republic of China, to deliver a speech “The Spirit of Red Cross” at TKU on Feb. 22.

In the speech, Mr. Hao talked about some aspects that Taiwan’s salvage team need to improve. Take Norway’s salvage team as example, he said that when the team is on its mission at foreign countries, the crew would prepare every necessity by their own and send the persons who are familiar with local language in order not to increase the disturbance at the disaster area. Comparing to the salvage teams of other countries, our salvage team often delays the salvage time due to the unbridgeable language problem and the lack of substance for rescue. Therefore, Hao considered that not bringing troubles to others is the real assistance for them.

After the speech, some of the students asked questions of Mr. Hao. One audience said that because of lasting high unemployment rate, most college students nowadays do not feel optimistic about Taiwan’s economic situation, and he wanted to inquired Hao’s opinion about the future economic situation of Taiwan. Hao replied that students do not have to hold such pessimistic view because he believed that as long as the political parties listen to people’s heartfelt wishes and offer more convenient policies rather than concentrate their energy only on political struggle, there is still hope to improve Taiwan’s economic situation. In response to the inquiry of his inclination to campaign for Taipei City Mayor at the end of this year, he answered that to be Taipei City Mayor can make him serve more people. (~ Shu-chun Yen )