■ Medical
Chen's son-in-law promoted
President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) son-in-law Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘) will be promoted to doctor-in-charge in the Taipei Hospital's Department of Orthopedics, a senior doctor at National Taiwan University Hospital said yesterday. Chao's training at the university hospital terminated yesterday and he has formally started his career at Taipei Hospital. Han I-hsiung (韓毅雄), a professor of orthopedics at the university hospital and matchmaker for Chao and the president's daughter, said Chao, having received sound training in the university hospital, is ready to see outpatients independently.
■ Foreign labor
MECO registers voters
All qualified Filipinos are encouraged to register with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) by Sept. 30 for absentee ballots for next May's elections. MECO's headquarters in Taipei as well as its extension offices in Taichung and Kaohsiung began accepting applications yesterday. Edgardo Espinosa, resident representative and managing director of MECO, was the first to register at the MECO in Taipei, the office said. Inquiries about voting applications can be made by calling (02) 2778-6511 in Taipei, (04) 2205-1306 in Taichung or (07) 331-7752 in Kaohsiung, MECO said.
■ Politics
PFP urges action on islands
Legislators yesterday urged the government to adopt measures to protect the rights of Taiwanese fishermen operating around the Tungsha (Pratas) islands. PFP Legislator Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟) said that the waters around Tungsha are rich in marine resources and are the traditional fishing grounds of Taiwanese fishermen. He suggested that the government demarcate its economic territory and claim sovereignty over Tungsha to ensure the rights of Taiwanese fishermen. Lu said that the natural beauty of the coral atoll of Tungsha has yet to be tapped and it could be a great contribution to tourism. He suggested the government plan a national "marine park" for Tungsha.
■ National Security
Council hires more staff
The National Security Council has recruited 19 new research fellows, including 10 doctoral-degree holders and nine master's degree holders, a spokesman said yesterday. Spokesman Su Chin-chiang (蘇進強) said the new recruits were selected from more than 200 hopefuls. They will begin pre-job training next week. This is the first time that the council has recruited research staffers since the Legislative Yuan passed revisions allowing for recruitment of more staff members to enhance the council's functions.
■ Diplomacy
US denies reports about Lu
Not only did the US not deny Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) a transit visa to New York, it was unaware that Lu was even making a trip, a Department of State official said yesterday. The official, who requested anonymity, said it is Washington's long-standing policy to allow Taiwanese leaders to make transit stopovers in the US and afford them safety, comfort, convenience and treat them with dignity. This policy will continue, he said. The official made the comment after State Department spokesman Richard Boucher brushed aside journalists' questions regarding Lu's trip at a regular news briefing. Boucher referred journalists to the Taipei authorities for the itinerary of Lu's Latin America trip, saying his department was unaware of it.
SHIPS, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES: The ministry has announced changes to varied transportation industries taking effect soon, with a number of effects for passengers Beginning next month, the post office is canceling signature upon delivery and written inquiry services for international registered small packets in accordance with the new policy of the Universal Postal Union, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. The new policy does not apply to packets that are to be delivered to China, the ministry said. Senders of international registered small packets would receive a NT$10 rebate on postage if the packets are sent from Jan. 1 to March 31, it added. The ministry said that three other policies are also scheduled to take effect next month. International cruise ship operators
NUMBERS IMBALANCE: More than 4 million Taiwanese have visited China this year, while only about half a million Chinese have visited here Beijing has yet to respond to Taiwan’s requests for negotiation over matters related to the recovery of cross-strait tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. Taiwan’s tourism authority issued the statement after Chinese-language daily the China Times reported yesterday that the government’s policy of banning group tours to China does not stop Taiwanese from visiting the country. As of October, more than 4.2 million had traveled to China this year, exceeding last year. Beijing estimated the number of Taiwanese tourists in China could reach 4.5 million this year. By contrast, only 500,000 Chinese tourists are expected in Taiwan, the report said. The report
Temperatures are forecast to drop steadily as a continental cold air mass moves across Taiwan, with some areas also likely to see heavy rainfall, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. From today through early tomorrow, a cold air mass would keep temperatures low across central and northern Taiwan, and the eastern half of Taiwan proper, with isolated brief showers forecast along Keelung’s north coast, Taipei and New Taipei City’s mountainous areas and eastern Taiwan, it said. Lows of 11°C to 15°C are forecast in central and northern Taiwan, Yilan County, and the outlying Kinmen and Lienchiang (Matsu) counties, and 14°C to 17°C
STEERING FAILURE: The first boat of its class is experiencing teething issues as it readies for acceptance by the navy, according to a recent story about rudder failure The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first locally built submarine, allegedly suffered a total failure of stern hydraulic systems during the second round of sea acceptance trials on June 26, and sailors were forced to manually operate the X-rudder to turn the submarine and return to port, news Web site Mirror Daily reported yesterday. The report said that tugboats following the Hai Kun assisted the submarine in avoiding collisions with other ships due to the X-rudder malfunctioning. At the time of the report, the submarine had completed its trials and was scheduled to begin diving and surfacing tests in shallow areas. The X-rudder,
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