Taiwan Quick Take

■ Heritage
Experts check sites
The Council of Cultural Affairs has invited international experts to evaluate 11 potential "World Heritage Sites" identified by local experts, an official in charge of preservation of cultural heritage said yesterday. The official said that local governments of the 25 cities and counties proposed a total of 88 sites, which were then narrowed down by experts to 11. Council Chairwoman Tchen Yu-chiou (陳郁秀) and other officials have accompanied three international experts to see the sites in the past few weeks. They are Fort San Domingo in Tamsui, Yangmingshan National Park, the old mining township of Chinkuashih (金瓜石) in Taipei County, Chilanshan forest in Ilan, the old mountain line railway in Miaoli, the Alishan mountain railway, Taroko National Park, the Pei-Nan aboriginal site, Orchid Island, the Penghu Archipelago and Kinmen island.

■ Politics
Twu's impeachment sought
Three PFP lawmakers asked the Control Yuan yesterday to impeach the Department of Health acting head Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲) for a controversial adjustment of national health insurance premiums and patient fees. Lin Hui-kuan (林惠官), Cheng San-yuan (鄭三元) and Fu Kun-chih (傅崑萁) delivered a written complaint to the Control Yuan asking for Twu's impeachment because they think he has made errors in administering the National Health Insurance Program. They accused Twu of failing propose an evaluation report as promised that would list both advantages and disadvantages of the adjustments to the premiums and fees. They also questioned whether Twu was trying to avoid the legislature's supervision by refusing sending such adjustment to the legislature to be discussed. Twu said he shouldn't be blamed for the rate hike since he only became acting head three months on Sept. 1 -- the same day the rate adjustments took effect.

■ Transport
MRT suffers electrical delay
Train on the Taipei MRT's yellow line between Taipei Railway Station and Kuting Station was halted for 13 minutes yesterday morning due to a power supply problem, the Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (TRTC) reported. The reasons behind the abnormal power supply were unclear, officials said, adding that the problem was being investigated by engineers. Service was halted at 8:05am and was resumed at 8:18am following emergency repair work on the power systems. Immediately after the stoppage, the TRTC mobilized buses to transport commuters affected by the delay.

■ Coast Guard
Drug smugglers arrested
Agents the Coast Guard Administration stationed in Kaohsiung yesterday announced the arrest of two suspects caught trying to smuggle in 4.3kg of amphetamine, worth about NT$2 million (US$57,140), from China. Huang Shu-huang (黃書煌) said the coast guard was tipped off in August that an international drug ring was smuggling controlled substances into Taiwan through airports, using couriers. After more than three months of investigation, officials learned that two couriers, surnamed Lin and Lee, were to board a China Airlines flight from Hong Kong on Sunday night. Agents were deployed at CKS International Airport and at Kaohsiung's Hsiaokang Airport. The two suspects were arrested at CKS after agents and custom officials found amphetamines hidden in sealed cereal bags in their luggage.

Staff writer, with agencies