HR0062 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0062 LRB096 08269 KXB 18376 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Thomas T.S. Cheng, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, on being named the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Helsinki, Finland; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Cheng became the director general of TECO-Chicago on August 5, 2003; he earned a B.A. degree from National Chengchi University, an M.A. degree from National Taiwan University, and an M.S. degree from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University; and

WHEREAS, He joined the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1971; he was secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before he came to Chicago; he also served as director general of TECO in Boston and Toronto, Canada; and

WHEREAS, His duties in Chicago included promoting the general relations, including those related to the economy, culture, education, technology, and trade between Taiwan and the midwest states and enhancing democracy and human rights; and

WHEREAS, He also invited delegations of leaders from the midwestern state legislatures to Taiwan; he organized an agricultural goodwill delegation from Taiwan to visit Illinois; he promoted the exchange of Chinese language education; and he successfully earned the support of the State of Illinois and the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife left Chicago on January 29, 2009 to begin his new post as the Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Helsinki, Finland; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we again congratulate Thomas Cheng and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas T.S. Cheng as a symbol of our respect and esteem.