■ Revenue
Speed detectors rake in cash
The cash-strapped Taipei City Government reported yesterday that its speed detectors netted NT$4.6 billion (US$131 million) in fines last year, providing a steady revenue stream. Authorities from Taipei's Traffic Violations Arbitration Center said the fines last year were up NT$300 million (US$8.57 million) over 2001. A large number of new speed detectors installed by the city led to a total of 3.55 million tickets being issued last year. A single speed detector at a specific location earned the city more than NT$100 million (US$2.85 million) each year, statistics released by the center showed. Close to 60,000 speeders were caught by this one detector, officials said, meaning it netted more revenue for the city than any other device. This detector is positioned on a wide straight road near the exit of a major highway, where drivers tend to speed, a policeman said.
■ Justice
Yu discusses crime freeze
Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (余政憲) met with police officials from around the nation yesterday to discuss how to achieve the goal of zero growth in the crime rate over the next three months. Yu said that he wanted to communicate with them directly to understand the difficulties that they face in implementing the "zero growth" goal, and how the central government can help them to overcome problems. Yu reaffirmed his determination to stem the growth of the crime rate no matter what the obstacles ahead.
■ Diplomacy
Soong visits Japan
PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) left for Japan yesterday for a weeklong visit that will include closed-door meetings with Japanese political heavyweights. Soong is being accompanied by several PFP lawmakers and Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), director of the PFP's policy research center. His itinerary will include meetings with the mayors of Fukuoka and Yokohama and he was also expected to throw out the first pitch for a game between two professional baseball teams -- the Daiei Eagles and the Seibu Lions -- in Fukuoka today, as well as meeting with his supporters in Tokyo. PFP sources said a major part of Soong's itinerary will be private meetings with influential Japanese politicians, including Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the speaker and senior members of the Diet and leaders of Japan's ruling and opposition parties.
■ Diplomacy
Books given to university
Taiwan's representative office in New York has donated 22,000 books to the City College of the City University of New York to promote friendship and cultural exchanges. Andrew Hsia (夏立言), director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), donated the books to the City College in a ceremony held at the school's library. After TECO's library was closed last June, the office retained about 10,000 books for a national information center. The remaining 30,000 have been donated to various institutions in New York City, including Columbia University, the Queens district public library and the City College. Hsia said the donation to the City College was the largest so far. The books were sent to the college last May to be sorted and classified. Hsia said the books are expected to facilitate Asian studies and should particularly benefit scholars and students interested in Taiwan and China. The books cover a range of subjects, including literature, history, arts, politics and government.
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