Hou You-yi

Hou You-yi
新北市政府捷運工程局 · Attribution · source
Name	Hou You-yi
Native name	侯友宜
Caption	Hou in 2023
Birth date	7 June 1957
Birth place	Taiwan, Yilan County
Nationality	Taiwan
Occupation	Politician, former police officer
Party	Kuomintang
Spouse	Huang Mei-chi

Hou You-yi (born 7 June 1957) is a Taiwanese politician and former police official who has served in senior positions across law enforcement and public administration. He rose from local policing to national prominence through roles in the Taipei City Police Department, National Police Agency, and as Commissioner of the Taipei City Police Department before entering elected office with the Kuomintang; he later served as Mayor of New Taipei and as a leading candidate in the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election. His career intersects with major Taiwanese institutions and figures across policing, administration, and party politics.

Early life and education

Hou was born in Yilan County, Taiwan into a family with roots in Yilan City. He attended National Taiwan University affiliate schools and graduated from the Central Police University with training that prepared him for service in the Taipei City Police Department. His formative years included interactions with local leaders in Yilan County and exposure to law enforcement mentors from institutions such as the Ministry of the Interior (Taiwan) and the National Police Agency (Taiwan), shaping his approach to public order and civic administration.

Police career

Hou's policing career began in local precincts and advanced through ranks within the Taipei City Police Department, where he served alongside figures from the Taipei City Government, coordinating with agencies such as the National Immigration Agency (Taiwan) and the Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau. He held leadership roles that required liaison with the Executive Yuan, collaboration with the Legislative Yuan on public safety legislation, and joint operations with the Coast Guard Administration (Taiwan) during cross-strait law-enforcement issues. As Commissioner of the Taipei City Police Department, he managed responses to high-profile incidents that drew attention from media outlets like Central News Agency (Taiwan), Apple Daily (Taiwan), and Liberty Times. His tenure included cooperation with international law enforcement counterparts, contact with representatives from the United States diplomatic community in Taipei and engagements with delegations from Japan and South Korea on policing exchanges.

Political career

Transitioning from policing to politics, Hou affiliated with the Kuomintang and sought elected office with support from party leaders and municipal figures in New Taipei. He served as Deputy Minister under administrations connected to the Executive Yuan and engaged with legislators from the Legislative Yuan on urban governance and public safety policy. His political rise involved alliances and competition with personalities from the Democratic Progressive Party, interactions with former presidents such as Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen in the public arena, and tactical coordination with local politicians from Keelung to Taoyuan, including mayors like Ko Wen-je and Chen Chu. Campaigning drew endorsements and commentary from business leaders tied to organizations like the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and civic groups linked to the Control Yuan and the Judicial Yuan.

Tenure as Mayor of New Taipei

As Mayor of New Taipei, Hou oversaw initiatives touching infrastructure projects connected to the Taiwan Railways Administration and collaborations with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (Taiwan), as well as urban planning linked to the National Development Council. His administration prioritized public safety programs developed with input from the National Police Agency (Taiwan) and emergency responses coordinated with the National Fire Agency (Taiwan) following natural events affecting Taiwan such as typhoons monitored by the Central Weather Administration. He managed relations with domestic corporations and utilities overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan) and engaged international partners including municipal delegations from Tokyo, Seoul, Singapore, and Los Angeles to promote investment and cultural exchanges. During his mayoralty he negotiated with transit authorities over extensions of the Taipei Metro and improved municipal services that attracted attention from media outlets like The Taipei Times and China Times.

2024 presidential campaign

Hou became a principal contender in the 2024 presidential race, representing the Kuomintang in an election that featured opponents from the Democratic Progressive Party and independents. His campaign emphasized continuity on cross-strait relations with positions debated in forums hosted by think tanks such as the Institute for National Policy Research and the Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation. He participated in televised debates organized by broadcasters including Taiwan Television and Formosa Television, and engaged with international observers and diplomatic communities in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, and Brussels on foreign policy themes. The campaign era involved interactions with party stalwarts, funders associated with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, and civil society organizations spanning labor unions and business chambers such as the China External Trade Development Council.

Personal life and honors

Hou is married to Huang Mei-chi; the couple has three children and maintains residence in New Taipei. He has received commendations and awards from law enforcement bodies including honors conferred by the National Police Agency (Taiwan) and recognition from municipal and provincial entities. His public service record has been noted in profiles by outlets like Voice of America, BBC News, and Reuters, and he has engaged with academic institutions including National Chengchi University for lectures and exchanges.

Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:Kuomintang politicians Category:Mayors of New Taipei