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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Crime
Police allege drunk-driving
Hsieh Yao-kuan (謝耀寬), an aide to Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko Chun-hsiung (柯俊雄), was pulled over on suspicion of drunk-driving, then yelled at police, saying he was Ko's aide. Police said Hsieh was driving Ko's Mercedes when he ran a red light in Taipei on Sunday. Police eventually pulled him over and suspected that Hsieh had been drinking, so officers asked him to take a breath test. Hsieh refused, yelled at the officers, stated he was Ko's aide in the legislature and asked the officers to let him go. Instead, he was arrested, taken to the police station and issued a NT$60,000 ticket while other officers impounded the car. Later, Ko called the chief at the police station, and allegedly asked whether he could give Hsieh "a break," but he was turned down.

■ Health
Pregnant women face fines
Pregnant women who smoke may soon face fines of up to NT$50,000, according to the latest draft of the Tobacco Control Act (菸害防治法). According to the draft, pregnant women who smoke, as well as people or stores that sell tobacco products to pregnant women, will both be fined between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000. The draft expands the list of tobacco-free areas to include school campuses and indoor swimming pools. Anyone who smokes in the prohibited areas will also be fined. According to the Bureau of Health Promotion, smoking has a negative effect on the health of a fetus. The miscarriage rate of pregnant women who are smokers is 1.6 times higher than for non-smoking ones, the bureau said. Anti-smoking groups lauded the draft for protecting the health rights of fetuses.

■ National security
Anti-terror defense unveiled
The Coast Guard Administration unveiled its Secret Service Company yesterday in a bid to strengthen anti-terrorism warfare in Taiwan's waters. Director of the Coast Guard Administration Syu Huei-you (許惠祐) said the agency will hold a drill in May, in which the newly established company will rescue a civilian ship occupied by terrorists. He said the 72 members of the company had all volunteered for service. They will be dispatched in four different units around the nation in charge of the special mission. The company yesterday displayed their combat skills to reporters. They dived for more than three minutes without any equipment and also demonstrated the rescue of two men from a helicopter.

■ Diplomacy
HK to consider Taiwan office
Donald Tsang (曾蔭權), Hong Kong's acting chief executive, said yesterday Hong Kong is considering setting up an economic and trade office in Taipei in order to facilitate exchanges between the two sides. It is the Hong Kong government's first positive response to the proposal of establishing a trade office in Taipei. The Mainland Affairs Council, which is also in charge of Taiwan's affairs with Hong Kong and Macau, has repeatedly called on Hong Kong to open a trade office in Taipei. Tsang told the Central News Agency that he is willing to do anything that is beneficial to exchanges between Taiwan and Hong Kong, but noted he also has to abide by Beijing's cross-strait policies. Tsang said it is a good idea to open a trade or cultural office in Taipei, adding the Hong Kong government has been circumspect in dealing with Taiwan because of the sensitive nature of the two sides' relations.

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