Elmer Fung
{{Short description|Taiwanese politician (1948–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{family name hatnote|馮 (Fung)|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Elmer Fung
| native_name = {{no bold|馮滬祥}}
| honorific-suffix =
| image = 馮滬祥委員.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Feng during his tenure on the Fourth Legislative Yuan
| office = Member of Legislative Yuan
| term_start = 1 February 1999
| term_end = 31 January 2002
| constituency = Taipei City
| birth_date = {{birth date|1948|05|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Shanghai, Republic of China
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|09|25|1948|05|08|df=y}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Republic of China
| party = New Party {{small|(since 1993)}}
Kuomintang {{small|(until 1993)}}
| alma_mater = Tunghai University (BS)
National Taiwan University (MS)
Boston University (PhD)
| occupation = Professor, politician
| spouse =
| relations =
| website =
}}
Fung Hu-hsiang ({{zh|t=馮滬祥|p=Féng Hùxiáng}}; 8 May 1948 – 25 September 2021), also known by his English name Elmer Fung, was a Taiwanese politician. A member of the New Party, he represented Taipei City in the Legislative Yuan from 1999 to 2002. In 2000, he and Li Ao formed the New Party presidential ticket, which finished fifth.
Academic career
Fung graduated from Tunghai University in 1970, majoring in chemistry. He then earned a master's degree in philosophy at National Taiwan University in 1974. After that, Fung went to America and earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from Boston University in 1978.
Fung became the head of the Department of Philosophy of Tunghai University in 1979. He co-chaired the Research Center of Philosophy of the same college from 1983 to 1986. After leaving Tunghai, Fung served as the Dean of College of Liberal Arts of National Central University from 1986 to 1988.
Political career
Fung was secretary to President Chiang Ching-kuo from 1979 to 1986; advisor to premier Hau Pei-tsun from 1991 to 1992; an honorary chairman of the Service Centre Across the Taiwan Strait; and a member of the National Assembly. In 1986, Chen Shui-bian was jailed for eight months for libel after his pro-opposition magazine accused, among other things, Fung of plagiarism. His argument in court was he merely translated an English book for his doctoral thesis. The court ruled in his favor and sentenced Chen Shui-bian to jail for libel.{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Presidential Office in crisis: Journey from political asset to liability|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/11/06/2003335062|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=6 November 2006}}{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Newsmaker: Embattled first lady just wants to live her own life|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/05/08/2003306777/2|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=8 May 2006}}
He and Li Ao formed the New Party ticket in the 2000 presidential election.{{cite news|last1=Low|first1=Stephanie|title=Li Ao agrees to running mate|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/01/21/0000020777|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=21 January 2000}} Only Fung showed up to represent the New Party at a post-election press conference, where he stated that Chen Shui-bian won only because President Lee Teng-hui chose to "Dump Lien to save Chen."{{cite news|last1=Liu|first1=Shao-Hua|title=Also-rans claim minor victories|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/losers/archives/2000/03/19/0000028421|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=19 March 2000}}
Shortly after the election, First Lady of the Republic of China Tseng Wen-hui sued Fung, Hsieh Chi-ta, and Tai Chi for defamation. The three were cleared of charges,{{cite news|last1=Chuang|first1=Jimmy|last2=Lin|first2=Mei-chun|title=Trio cleared of slander charges|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/03/27/0000129360|accessdate=9 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=27 March 2000}} but fined upon appeal to the Taiwan High Court. Hsieh refused to pay the fine and was imprisoned for three months.{{cite news|last1=Lin|first1=Mei-chun|title=Newsmakers: Former first lady shows her stronger side|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/04/01/130049|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=1 April 2002}}{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Tau-lin|title=Prison was a cinch, says defamation queen|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/02/2003100823|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=2 March 2004}} The Supreme Court heard an appeal of the case in 2010, and upheld the rulings for both Fung and Tai.{{cite news|title=Tseng libel ruling upheld|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2010/05/07/2003472381|accessdate=9 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=7 May 2010}}
In 2001, the Taiwan Association of University Professors ranked him at the top of a list delineating thirteen of the worst legislators.{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Joyce|title=Professors make list of legislature's 'troublemakers'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2001/04/16/0000081888|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=16 April 2001}} Shortly after stepping down from the Legislative Yuan in 2002, Fung started a business in China.{{cite news|last1=Hsieh|first1=Chun-Man|last2=Shang|first2=Tao-Ming|title=Defeated New Party brass take flight across the Strait|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/11/23/0000180625|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=23 November 2002}}
In 2003, investigator Ko Ching-ming named Fung one of the people who had collaborated with the Taiwan Garrison Command in 1974 to {{ill|National Taiwan University Philosophy Department incident|zh|台大哲學系事件|lt=expel thirteen philosophy professors}} from National Taiwan University, where Fung was then a student.{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Jewel|title=NTU to apologize for 1974 crackdown on professors|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/12/25/2003084822|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=25 December 2003}}
In February 2004, a Taiwan-based foreign labourers' organization publicly accused Fung of raping his Filipina housekeeper.{{cite news|title=MECO accused of rape cover-up|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/02/17/2003099059|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=17 February 2004}} At least two incidents were alleged to have occurred, once in November 2003 and another in January 2004.{{cite news|last1=Jimmy|first1=Chuang|title=High Court upholds former legislator's sentence for rape|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/04/2003395580|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=4 January 2008}} Soon after the accusation, Democratic Progressive Party legislators discussed removing Fung from his position as a counselor to the legislature.{{cite news|last1=Wu|first1=Debby|title=Expel rape suspect: legislators|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/11/04/2003209607|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=4 November 2004}} On 8 July 2005 the presiding judge found him guilty based on matching DNA evidence.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Elmer Fung guilty of raping Filipina|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/07/09/2003262778|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=9 July 2005}} The decision was appealed to the Taiwan High Court, which upheld the ruling in 2007 and again in 2008. After the first High Court ruling, the Supreme Court offered to review the case.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Supreme Court agrees to review former lawmaker Elmer Feng's rape conviction|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2007/02/05/2003347730|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=5 February 2007}} The Taiwan High Court heard the case again, and in February 2012 had cleared Fung of the charges because the housekeeper had made a statement recanting her accusations.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Elmer Fung clear of rape charges|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/02/16/2003525616|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=16 February 2016}} However, in December, the High Court chose to reverse its ruling, stating that the housekeeper's earlier statements and assorted medical evidence showed that the accusation was not a lie.{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Rich|title=Former legislator may face prison over rape claims|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/12/08/2003549657|accessdate=8 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=8 December 2012}} After a total of seven High Court trials, the Supreme Court ruled on the case in October 2016, and sentenced Fung to three years and four months imprisonment.{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Yang-yu|last2=Chen|first2=Christie|title=Supreme Court upholds former lawmaker's rape convictions|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201610070026.aspx|accessdate=8 October 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=7 October 2016}}{{cite news|title=Former lawmaker found guilty of raping employee|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/10/09/2003656807|accessdate=9 October 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=9 October 2016}} Fung claimed he was severely ill, and his sentence was suspended until the completion of a health examination.{{cite news|last1=You|first1=Kai-hsiang|last2=Chen|first2=Christie|last3=Wu|first3=Lilian|title=Ex-lawmaker convicted of raping Filipino maid gets reprieve|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201610120015.aspx|accessdate=12 October 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=12 October 2016}} Fung eventually served 85 days of the sentence before he was released on medical parole in January 2017.{{cite news|last1=Pan|first1=Jason|title=Authorities release convicted legislator on medical parole|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/01/20/2003663453|accessdate=20 January 2017|work=Taipei Times|date=20 January 2017}}
Death
Fung fell in mid-September 2021, and sought medical treatment for a fracture. During his hospital stay, doctors discovered that cancer had recurred, and Fung died on 25 September 2021.{{cite news |title=前立委馮滬祥癌症病逝 享壽73歲 |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/amp/realtimenews/20210926001472-260407 |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=China Times |date=26 September 2021 |language=zh}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2000 presidential election candidates, Republic of China}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fung, Elmer}}
Category:New Party Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Boston University alumni
Category:Republic of China politicians from Shanghai
Category:Tunghai University alumni
Category:Taipei Members of the Legislative Yuan
Category:Members of the 4th Legislative Yuan
Category:Academic staff of the National Central University
Category:Academic staff of Tunghai University
Category:National Taiwan University alumni
Category:Taiwanese people from Shanghai
Category:Politicians convicted of sex offences
Category:Taiwanese politicians convicted of crimes