Bureau pulls `Foul-mouthed Dragon'

Taipei City's Bureau of Health has decided that a foul-mouthed animated dragon that makes fun of children born without an anus isn't the sort of character the bureau wants representing it.

To "avoid causing unnecessary trouble," the bureau will withdraw a short promotional film featuring the controversial character "Foul-mouthed Dragon" (訐譙龍) introducing the bureau's new medical Web site, officials said yesterday.

"When we picked Foul-mouthed Dragon to feature in the two-minute film a week ago, we didn't expect it to cause this much controversy," said Lin Hsien-tang (林獻堂), director of the bureau's information center.

The film was planned for the municipal medical Web site, called Health City, which was launched yesterday.

The movie was meant to be a promotional piece for the NT$7 million project, which had taken six months to complete.

The popular dragon, which is known for spewing profanity, has upset parents and teachers, particularly with one song on the character's recent album which was released on May 4.

City councilors on Tuesday requested that the song, Teacher, please don't hit my face (老師請不要打我的臉), be removed from the Internet and music stores because they said it makes fun of children who are born without an anus.

The lyrics in the song tell the story of a teacher who enjoys punishing her students.

The teacher, who is also a mother, in a twisted turn of retribution, gives birth to a child without an anus.

Taiwanese believe that those who do evil during their lifetime are bound to be punished with offspring born without an anus.

Lin said that the bureau chose the popular character to feature in the film at the suggestion of two computer technology companies contracted to help build the Web site.

"We thought the film, which was completed yesterday, would have made the Web site more interesting and attract more visitors," Lin said.

The bilingual Web site -- www.healthcity.net.tw -- is part of Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's

(馬英九) campaign promise to turn Taipei into a cyber-city.

With a quick click of the mouse, a Web user can carry out online hospital registration, make medical inquiries and also participate in patients' clubs and activities.

Electronic maps and advice on how to get to hospitals are also available for those people who are not familiar with the city and its medical system.

Animated pictures of the human body are also available.

The site is designed to prompt people to visit the city's approximately 2,600 public and private hospitals and clinics.