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Keelung to appeal cabinet's axing of LNG terminal referendum
Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang says he plans to file an administrative appeal against a cabinet decision to revoke approval of a local referendum on building a liquefied natural gas terminal in the city.
According to Hsieh Kuo-liang, the referendum to halt construction of the terminal falls within the city's autonomous powers and he hopes the administrative appeal will result in the Cabinet reviewing its decision.
Hsieh says if the administrative appeal is rejected, he will consider filing an administrative lawsuit against the cabinet.
The Keelung city government passed a proposal to hold a local referendum on the issue in late March. However, the Central Election Commission ruled that the city government is unable to propose the holding of a referendum on the issue, as energy policy-related matters did not fall within its autonomous powers.
The Keelung City government has argued that the referendum would fall under local autonomy provisions pertaining to environmental conservation and fisheries management.
