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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Society
Music concert draws protests
Audience members at a music concert held on Sunday night in Taipei City criticized organizers for being used by China to promote Beijing's agenda, after the concert programs were printed in simplified Chinese and the title "Republic of China" was crossed out on the programs. The concert, jointly organized by the Performing Artists Union of Taipei and a Fujian Province TV station, was attended by performers from both Taiwan and China. In response, the host of the concert, ETTV public relations manager Lee Chuan-wei (李傳偉), said that the concert was merely a cultural exchange among performers, and that fans should not be too concerned about political implications.

■ Government
Wedding incident probed
The Presidential Office yesterday promised to launch an investigation into allegations that two former youth corps officials abused their privileges in using a public facility. The Presidential Office's Public Affairs Department yesterday issued a statement admitting to an incident in which a bureau section chief allowed two former youth corps members to have their wedding pictures taken at the Taipei Guest House last Dec. 16. The facility is reserved exclusively for the president, vice president, Presidential Office secretary-general, premier and foreign minister to entertain guests, or hold meetings and activities.

■ Politics
KMT rejects dissident
Chinese dissident Chen Rongli's (陳榮利) bid to join the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was rejected yesterday. Chen, a pro-democracy activist jailed in China for attempting to found a political party, came to Taiwan seeking asylum in January 2004. He visited KMT headquarters yesterday to submit his application. "The KMT is a party of the `Three Principles of the People,' and I am a believer in the principles," Chen said. His application was rejected because he did not have Republic of China citizenship, a requirement for party membership. "According to the Constitution, both Taiwan and China are part of the Republic of China ... I am completely qualified to become a KMT member," Chen said.

■ Diplomacy
MOFA announces postings
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced that Katharine Chang (張小月), the country's top representative to the Netherlands, will become vice foreign minister, while Leo Lee (李澄然) will become head of the ministry's North American Affairs Department. Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) announced the personnel changes at a press briefing yesterday. In 1997, she became the first female ambassador when she took up the post as ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis and the Commonwealth of Dominica.

■ Health
New fines for fish firms
The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that it will impose steep fines on fish processors who cheat consumers. DOH officials made the remarks after Kaohsiung health officials found that six out of 19 sashimi samples collected from restaurants and supermarkets in a random check showed the addition of monoxide to make them pinker. Hsiao Tung-ming (蕭東明), acting director of the Department of Food Safety, said that the additive combines with hemoglobin in the blood of the fish to give the meat a reddish-pink luster even if it is old or rotten.

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