At the invitation of Hsinchu Mayor Ming-Tsai Hsu, President Lih J. Chen agreed to serve as the leader of City's Science and Technology Advisory Group. The commissioning ceremony was held on February 11 at which the Mayor and President Chen exchanged views on issues regarding the university and the city at large.

During the ceremony Mayor Hsu described what he has envisioned for the future of Hsinchu, "a cosmopolitan, high-tech, green city." The mayor noted that NTHU faculty, students and staff have made considerable contributions to the city both economically and culturally. He hopes to capitalize on President Chen's expertise in science and technology to usher Hsinchu into a new era of green development.

President Chen responded by saying, "NTHU and Hsinchu have had a long and productive symbiotic relationship. Our recent announcement of a green campus plan goes hand-in-hand with the mayor's overall vision of a green Hsinchu." President Chen assured the Mayor that he was more than happy to consolidate NTHU's resources to assist in the implementation of energy conservation as well as the promotion of environmental awareness among the citizens of Hsinchu.

The Mayor promised to work with the university in supplying the necessary sites for new energy development projects, in particular the micro wind-power generating projects at Nan-Liao headed by Vice-President Ming-Chuen Yip. The mayor went on to say it is his belief that with NTHU's participation, Hsinchu will not only be known as a high-tech green city, but also as the most livable city in our country.