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City chastises Taipei 101 over Toyota advertisements

The Taipei City Government warned the Taipei 101 Mall yesterday against placing "illegal" advertisements on the exterior of the building after it failed to apply to the city government in advance.

Ads should be reviewed by the city's Urban Development Department before being placed on Taipei 101's outer walls, said Liu Mei-hsiu (劉美秀), a division chief.

New Party Taipei City councilors Hou Kuan-chiung (侯冠群) and Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) had complained about the ads for Toyota Motor Corp on the building.

"Since the red, round-shape Toyota advertisements were put on Taipei 101, many residents have called and complained about a Japanese flag-like ad appearing on Taipei's landmark," Hou said in front of the building yesterday.

Wang said the ads could mislead tourists into thinking Taipei 101 was Toyota's headquarters.

Liu said Taipei 101 has already been fined NT$80,000 in accordance with the Construction Law (建築法) for carrying illegal advertisements, and told the ads must be removed immediately. Taipei 101 removed the Toyota ads yesterday.

Meanwhile, city officials denied having a dispute with the building's management over the New Year's Eve fireworks show.

"The city government will make sure there is another successful fireworks show ... but we don't want politics or any `provacative' words to appear during the show," city government spokesman Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東) said.

The Tourism Bureau will stage this year's fireworks, triggering rumors that it might use the show to promote the nation's UN bid.
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