Lien, Soong and Chang to meet

With the KMT and PFP still failing to decide their joint candidate for Kaohsiung mayor, a possible meeting between leaders of the two parties and independent candidate Chang Po-ya (張博雅) tomorrow may create a chance to break the deadlock.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) and Chang -- who is seeking the two parties' support -- have all been invited to attend a religious ceremony tomorrow night in Tainan County.

This will be a rare occasion for the three parties to appear simultaneously.

KMT spokesman Wu Ching-ji (吳清基) yesterday confirmed that Lien will attend the ceremony, but said it is still uncertain as to whether Lien, Soong and Chang will have any chance to talk about "serious business."

The KMT and PFP, which have decided to cooperate in a bid to defeat incumbent Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) from the DPP, have not ruled out the possibility of supporting a candidate from outside both parties.

The KMT has asked Chang to take part in the KMT-PFP negotiation system if she intends to vie for the pan-blue camp's support.

KMT Secretary-general Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) yesterday said the pan-blue camp is currently working to integrate all opposition forces, so as to go one-on-one with Hsieh.

Lin proposed establishing a negotiation system for the opposition alliance and setting down criteria acceptable to all concerned parties to select one candidate to run against Hsieh.

In addition to Chang, former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-te (施明德) -- another independent candidate -- should also join the negotiation system, Lin said.

Also yesterday, New Party Chairman Yok Mu-ming (郁慕明) urged the KMT and PFP to put aside the interests of their own parties and decide the pan-blue camp's candidate within a week.

Chang's aide, Chen Wei-ti (陳韋迪), said the focus of the year-end Kaohsiung mayoral race should be to improve the port city's development, rather than the 2004 presidential election.

Declining to specify whether Chang would support the pan-blue camp in 2004, Chen said, "Chang would support a presidential candidate who is willing to strive for the people of Taiwan and is able to offer the people a comfortable life."