Taiwan Quick Take

PHOTO: CNA

■ MEDIA
More Hakka coverage urged
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that he hoped the media will give a more noticeable presence to Hakka language and culture to let the new generations and non-Hakka communities better understand the ethnic group. Addressing a conference on Hakka culture, Chen said that promoting and preserving the culture is the main purpose of the government's efforts in developing Hakka media and that the establishment of the country's only Hakka TV station has won the support of the Hakka community and legislators across party lines. Calling the Hakka community a "pioneer of globalization," the president said that the development of Hakka culture is closely related to the "cultural pluralization" of humankind and that the two cannot be separated.

■ TRANSPORTATION
KRTC fined by FTC
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) fined the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp (KRTC) NT$15 million (US$446,428) yesterday for improperly requiring its contractors to use construction materials supplied by designated manufacturers. The move violated the Fair Trade Act (公平交易法) because it impeded fair competition, commission officials said. KRTC officials said they will appeal the decision. Four manufacturers won the right to supply concrete for the Kaohsiung project, including a company in which former KRTC vice chairman Chen Min-hsien (陳敏賢) has a stake. According to a report released by the Kaohsiung City Government Oct. 21, Chen apparently took advantage of his position with the KRTC to rig the tendering process in favor of his own firm. Chen is also under investigation by prosecutors for his role in a scandal involving the hiring of Thai workers for the project.

■ FISHERIES
COA to investigate UN report
The Fisheries Administration under the Council of Agriculture (COA) will look into a claim in a UN report alleging that most of the fishing boats flying flags of convenience and poaching on the high seas are from Taiwan, a spokesman for the administration said. Claiming that only fishing vessels flying the national flag come from Taiwan, the spokesman said that those flying flags of convenience to disguise their illegal operations in international waters are not necessarily Taiwanese. The government is willing to cooperate with the international community in wiping out all kinds of criminal activities, including illegal fishing, he said, but he urged the flag host countries to address the problem.

■ CHARITY
Quake aid delivered
The first batch of medical supplies donated by the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation to earthquake victims in Pakistan was delivered by air on Wednesday. The medical goods were collected by the foundation to be sent to a medical team headed by Qadir Fayyaz, a Pakistani cosmetic surgeon. The foundation plans to raise NT$3 million (US$89,200) in cash and medical goods to help with Fayyaz's medical relief program, a foundation spokeswoman said. Members of the public are welcome to make donations through the Internet at nncf.org/help.htm or www.17885.com.tw/fay/index.asp.