Taiwan Quick Take

■ Politics
Chen vows to push reform
In his New Year's speech President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will vow to implement the second-phase of constitutional reforms through a referendum whether the legislature agrees or not, according to an official from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) yesterday. The DPP official, who wished to remain anonymous, said that how the constitutional reforms can be carried out will be the key point in the president's speech and a referendum is one means that the president will try to use to achieve this aim -- depending on whether the legislature will consent to allow such a referendum.

■ society
Bookstore maps available
A Taipei bookseller released the first ever map for locating used book stores in the capital on Thursday. According to Tai Li-chen (戴莉珍), owner of the Mollie Used Book House, the map is available for free at the store, and customers who ask the store to collect used books from their homes will also be offered a copy of the map. Since there are few used bookstores in the city, many people have no idea that there are bookstores that collect used books. The map can serve as a guide for both book lovers and those who are wanting to clean out any old books they may have in their homes, Tai said. People who wish to sell their used books are urged to call the store on (02) 2369-2780.

■ Law and order
Zanadu verdicts reached
The Taipei District Court has passed judgement in the high-profile Zanadu bribery scandal that made headlines back in 2002. Four of the 11 defendants were found guilty, including Taiwan Fertilizer chairman Hsieh Sheng-fu (謝生富), who was sentenced to 14 years. Su Hui-chen (蘇惠珍), the majority share holder in Zanadu Development Co, was found guilty on two counts of breach of trust for which she was sentenced to two years and six months, and six years respectively. She was found not guilty on violations of the Securities and Exchange Law and the Banking Law. Former senior adviser to the president Yu Chen Yueh-ying (余陳月英) was also found guilty of breach of trust and sentenced to eighteen months. Three of the accused were found not guilty, two more are still wanted. Two of the accused have died since the case commenced. The case can still be appealed.

■ Transportation
Aloha may soon comply
Taipei City Government yesterday issued an ultimatum to Aloha Bus Corp, a Kaohsiung-based bus company, asking the company to relocate their transit stops along Cheng-De Road to the city's new transit center near the Taipei Railway Station by Jan. 4. "If the company refuses to do so, the city government will cut off its water and electricity supply beginning on Jan. 16," Jason Lin (林志盈), Taipei city's transportation department head, told press conference late last night. A local TV station reported earlier last night that an agreement was reached between the company and the government, in which the company agreed to use the new transit center by Jan. 9 while it will not be forced to relocate their current transit stops to the new location. "The report was not true," Lin said, adding that the agreement reached was that the company must move its current transit stops along Cheng-De Road.