06-R 103

2006 -- H 7824

Enacted 03/01/06

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND WELCOMING KUO-TUNG YANG TO THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS

Introduced By: Representatives Kilmartin, Fox, Murphy, Rose, and Lewiss

Date Introduced: March 01, 2006

     WHEREAS, The date of the Lunar New Year is based entirely on the movement of the

sun, moon and stars and is traditionally fixed as the second new moon after the winter solstice.

Each year is popularly known by one of the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. January 29,

2006 marked this year's Lunar New Year and officially began the "Year of the Dog"; and

     WHEREAS, In celebration of this significant event, the Rhode Island House of

Representatives invited the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Kuo-

Tung Yang to join them in a number of festive demonstrations and events; and

     WHEREAS, Kuo-Tung Yang is a man of extraordinary accomplishments. His

impeccable credentials include the attainment of a Bachelor of Law Degree and a Masters of Arts,

Political Science from the National Taiwan University; and

     WHEREAS, His intelligence and astute leadership abilities have engendered a

continuous succession of additional responsibilities and titles. Beginning his career as the

Secretary of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs, Kuo-Tung Yang ascended to

the position of Section Chief and later served as the Assistant Director-General and Deputy

Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Legal Affairs. In November of 2004, he was

named Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston; and

     WHEREAS, The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, originally named the

Coordination Council for the North American Affairs Office, was established in 1982. It was

founded in order to represent the interests of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in New England and

currently serves the needs of five New England States: Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New

Hampshire, Vermont and Maine; and

     WHEREAS, Presently, both Massachusetts and New Hampshire share a sister-state

relationship with Taiwan, and Vermont has established a trade representative office in Taipei.

Rhode Island's deep friendship with Taiwan has been fostered by a number of mutually beneficial

interchanges and shared interests; and

     WHEREAS, For the past six years, the City of Pawtucket has hosted a Taiwan Festival

Day featuring a plethora of cultural and artistic events, and culminating with the incredibly

popular dragon boat races along the Blackstone. The races are generously sponsored by the

Taipei Economic and Cultural Office; and

     WHEREAS, The richness and beauty of the Chinese culture as well as Taiwan's

enriching contributions to Rhode Island's diversity, is eminently worthy of recognition and

celebration; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations is delighted to welcome Kuo-Tung Yang, Director General of the Taipei

Economic and Cultural Office to the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and to

join our esteemed guests and the people of Taiwan in celebrating the Lunar New Year, the Year

of the Dog; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Kuo-Tung Yang, Director General of the Taipei

Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.

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LC02674

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