Kia was ordained on July 15, 1951 in Tainan, Taiwan. He was appointed the first Bishop of Chiayi on May 21, 1970 and installed on July 16, 1970. He was appointed Bishop of Hualien on December 14, 1974. He became the Archbishop of Taipei on November 18, 1978. He resigned on February 11, 1989.
Kia died on August 22, 2017 in Taipei, Taiwan at the age of 92.[2]