Lawmaker slams Hakka council over NT$57m film subsidyBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Shih-ming (林思銘) on Tuesday criticized the Hakka Affairs Council for a NT$57 million (US$1.8 million) subsidy granted to the film The Photo from 1977 (那張照片裡的我們), citing the film’s poor performance at the box office. The film failed to promote Hakka culture with a box office revenue of NT$9.05 million, Lin said during a legislative session. Taxpayers’ money should not be wasted, Lin said, questioning whether the subsidy had achieved its intended goal of fostering a Hakka cultural spirit. Hakka Affairs Council Minister Ku Hsiu-Fei (古秀妃) said that she was also dissatisfied with the film’s box office performance and narrative. The council should undertake a review, she said, adding that the Chungli Incident is a significant historical event for Taiwan and the Hakka community.

Source: Taipei Times April 10, 2026 06:46 UTC