Continental Engineering and Yin Chih-hao
There are many Waishengren-affiliated companies in Taiwan. I had always assumed that these companies were former KMT-affiliated state-owned enterprises that relied on connections to secure work, and that there was nothing technically commendable about them.
However, after hearing a friend's story, I realized that this was a one-sided assumption, and that there are Waishengren-affiliated companies that are sincerely dedicated to construction work based on solid technical capabilities.
A construction company called Continental Engineering
This friend once worked for a construction company called "Continental Engineering". He told me about the various quality control methods used at this company. Surprisingly, this Taiwanese construction company carries out very strict and high-level construction work.
He speaks about his experience at this company with great pride, and I now believe that is well-deserved. It seems to me that their work is comparable to that of Japan's major general contractors.
Currently, the Ambassador Hotel that was on Zhongshan North Road has been demolished, and a new hotel and service apartment complex are being planned and built. The construction company for this project is a joint venture between Chung-Lu Construction, the Taiwanese subsidiary of Japan's Kajima Corporation, and this Continental Engineering.
The owner of the Ambassador Hotel has chosen Continental Engineering as the Taiwanese construction company to build one of the highest-class hotels and service apartments in Taiwan. This is proof that in the current Taiwanese construction industry, Continental Engineering is considered a company worthy of respect in terms of quality.
For example, the Grand Hotel built in 1973 was also constructed by Continental Engineering. Continental Engineering is a construction company that laid its foundations in Taiwan under KMT rule and is now famous in modern Taiwan for its advanced architectural technology.
Continental Engineering thread on Wikipedia
Yin Chih-hao
This friend also told me about the founder of Continental Engineering.
The company's founder, Yin Chih-hao, was from Zhejiang Province and studied civil engineering at National Chiao Tung University. After graduating, he initially found employment at a railway-related company. Later, during World War II in Sichuan Province, he established Continental Engineering as a company that undertook railway construction projects.
Therefore, he was deeply concerned with the challenge of how to build a company organization and system to carry out public civil engineering projects strictly.
And this company came to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek's relocation to Taiwan. By consistently maintaining a scientifically rigorous attitude and a commitment to quality in building construction, it has established its position as a leader among local construction companies in Taiwan today. That is how it happened.
Talent that came with the KMT
After hearing this story from my friend, I gained a new perspective, realizing that there were talented individuals among the mainlanders who helped build the foundations of modern Taiwanese society.
I have also heard in other cases that such Chinese construction companies developed based on their experience in railway construction. It is said that some architects who were active in Taiwan also had backgrounds in civil engineering and worked in architectural design in Taiwan based on their experience at railway companies.
Until now, I had thought that mainland-affiliated companies were all pre-modern companies that colluded with the KMT and profited under martial law, but that is certainly not the case. I reflected that making such assumptions would actually lead to a misunderstanding of the truth of Taiwanese society.