Premier Su Tseng-chang (
"The premier said that the government's determination to carry out the ETC system will not change. However, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications will prove to the public its ability to carry out policy and Far Eastern shall prove its ability to provide quality services to the public," Government Information Office Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Cheng Wen-tsang (
Su's remarks referred to recent complaints about the ETC system after the Taipei Administrative High Court ruled that the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau had failed to follow the principles of public welfare and equality when it chose Far Eastern to execute the ETC project.
The court revoked the bureau's decision last Friday, making the fate of project uncertain.
The court's decision also prompted motorists to begin requesting refunds for on-board units bought to allow them to use the system.
"Purchases of on-board units by motorists were ... in support of the government's policy. As a result, it is natural for the government to take care of them now that many of them want their money back," Cheng said. "No matter what, motorists' legal rights must be protected."
The premier also requested that Far Eastern show it is capable of completing the ETC contract.
"The court does not believe in the company. However, this does not mean that Far Eastern is out [of the contract], because the court was simply asking us to re-consider," Cheng said. "The company should take good care of its customers to prove what it can do."
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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