■ Cross-strait ties
Continuity' Beijing's policy
China's new government leadership plans no changes in its approach to Taiwan and will maintain a policy of ``continuity,'' a spokesman for the National People's Congress said yesterday. Jiang Enzhu, a spokesman for the congress which convenes today, said he expects the new government leadership to stick with the current approach. "Our Taiwan policy will maintain continuity and stability," Jiang said at a news con-ference in Beijing.
■ Travel
New AIT system for US visas
All US visa applicants are required to follow a new system of calling to arrange a specific appointment time for their applications before processing on-site applica-tions as of March 17, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced yesterday. As the phone-appointment system began operation on Monday, an AIT official said yesterday that the institute would begin comprehensive implemen-tation of the scheme in two weeks. The automated line is 0204-58898. Those who want to speak to an operator may call 0204-58989 for non-immigrant-visa appoint-ments. Immigrant and non-immigrant visa applicants who have been refused within the previous 12 months and need to make an appointment should call 0204-58987. Starting March 17, AIT will also require that all visa applications be completed in English.
■ Expatriates
IRS official to visit AIT
An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) official will be in Taiwan for a week, starting March 17, to help US taxpayers in preparing their federal tax returns for last year or prior years, the American Institute in Tai-wan (AIT) said in a press release yesterday. The official would be available at the AIT Taipei office from March 17 through the morning of March 19 and then will be at the AIT Kaohsiung office from the afternoon of March 19 through March 21. The free-of-charge service is avail-able by appointment, in 15-minute intervals, the AIT statement said. Those seeking appointment at the AIT Taipei office should call the American Citizen Ser-vices Office at 02-2709-2000, ext. 2014. Those who want appointments in Kaohsiung should call 07-238-7744, ext.15 or 30. Copies of the most frequently used US tax forms are available at the AIT Taipei office or can be accessed from the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.
■ Vietnam
Taiwanese murdered
A Taiwanese woman who ran three massage shops in Ho Chi Minh City was found murdered with her maid, Vietnamese police said yesterday. The bodies of
Yen Tse-ho and Nguyen Thi Tham were discovered on Saturday by the shops' manager, Van Kiet, said a police officer who declined to be named. Yen moved to Vietnam in 1988 and had been running the massage parlors since then, the policewoman said. An eyewitness saw two women with bloodstained clothing leaving the house the night before the bodies were discovered, the police-woman said.
■ Tourism
Penghu promotion in Macau
Penghu County Commis-sioner Lai Feng-wei (賴峰偉) is scheduled to promote Penghu tourism in Macau today. Air Macau's chartered flight service between Macau and Penghu will be inaugur-ated next month. The service was originally scheduled to begin on Lunar New Year's eve, but was delayed -- reportedly due to a lack of passenger interest.
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