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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Society
Official's body found in river
The body of a member of the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission was fished out of the Jinmei River in Taipei City's Muzha District around noon yesterday. Wang Ping-yun (汪平雲), 40, a lawyer and Taiwan Thinktank adviser, had helped the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) compile their request for a constitutional interpretation on Chen's "state affairs fund." The cause of death is unknown. Hsu Yung-ming (徐永明), a Taiwan Thinktank member who has known Wang since high school, said he had not noticed anything wrong when he talked to Wang over the weekend, but added that Wang had been under a lot of pressure recently.

■ Society
Chao Chien-ming going south
The president's son-in-law will begin seeing patients from March 1 at the Madou (麻豆) branch of Tainan's SinLau Hospital. Chao Chien-ming (趙建銘) was suspended from his post at National Taiwan University's orthopedic department in July, when he was indicted on insider-trading charges. He resigned from the hospital effective on Wednesday. Chao said in a statement that he would work at SinLau Hospital. "During my time on the job, I will do my best to serve those who need help in the spirit of a volunteer," Chao stated. "Please allow me a fresh start." Chao also said in his statement that he would continue with his appeals to overturn a six-year sentence handed down by the Taipei District Court in December.

■ Public safety
Traffic patrols doubled
The number of traffic police on duty will be doubled to maintain road safety during the Lunar New Year holiday as the Ministry of Transportation and Communications forecasts a 40 percent increase in the number of travelers on the road over the holiday period, an official of the National Police Agency (NPA) said yesterday. The NPA's transportation affairs department said that a total of 10,241 traffic police officers and 2,959 volunteer traffic police would be dispatched on roadways around Taiwan from tomorrow to Feb. 25. Police will step up measures and crack down on traffic violations around scenic spots, major intersections and bottleneck-prone spots on highways during peak travel periods. The NPA also asked the public to report heavy traffic congestion to its special toll-free hotline, 0800-00123.

■ Culture
Blossoms draw crowds
The annual Yangmingshan Flower Festival (陽明山花季) is scheduled to start on Monday and continue through March 25, with cherry blossoms, peach blossoms and other flowers attracting crowds of admirers. The festival will feature a cherry blossom trail and a night-time cherry blossom show from 6pm to 9pm every day, combining light shows and blossoms, the Taipei Department of Public Works said. The transportation department said visitors should expect heavy traffic during the period and encouraged taking public transportation to reduce traffic. Traffic restrictions for vehicles will be in place for uphill traffic on Yangde Boulevard between 6am and 4pm, and for downhill traffic between 2pm and 6pm, the department said. Parking fees in lots around Yangmingshan will be increased during the festival. Details in Chinese about public bus routes and traffic restrictions can be found on the Internet at www.dot.taipei.gov.tw/newch/.

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