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Taiwan Quick Take

■ Culture
Plaque replaces Chiang
A name plaque for the Kaohsiung City Cultural Center was installed above the main entrance yesterday as part of the local government's participation in the national government's name-change campaign, which seeks to remove references to dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) from local place names. The move followed the local government's decision on March 13 to rename the cultural center and dismantle Chiang's statue at the Kaohsiung Chiang Kai-shek Cultural Center despite protests from opponents. An official with the city's Cultural Affairs Bureau said that the space once occupied by the Chiang statue would be used for art displays.

■ Food industry
Event promotes pork
In view of a slump in hog prices, the National Animal Industry Foundation held an event to promote pork consumption yesterday in Kaohsiung County, inviting the public to sample pork delicacies. The foundation has organized 10 promotional events to be staged around the country, the first of which was held in Kaohsiung County with the participation of several central and local government officials. Some 1,000 people were divided into 30 teams, joined forces to prepare a wide range of pork recipes, including baked sausages and meats, salted pork, smoked bacon and roasted suckling pig. At present, the annual average hog trading price is between NT$4,300 to NT$4,500 per 100kg, much lower than last year's NT$5,000 per 100kg and lower than the cost of production, which is NT$4,800 to NT$5,000 per 100kg.

■ Narcotics
Pingtung plant raided
The Bureau of Investigation announced yesterday that it had uncovered a ketamine manufacturing plant and seized 30kg of ketamine in Pingtung County, marking the first time that such a drug factory had been uncovered by law enforcement officials. With the help of a sniffer dog, bureau investigators spotted the factory inside a house early yesterday morning and arrested three suspects, a bureau official said. The official said that while raiding the plant, the investigators witnessed the suspects producing drugs. The official added that the 30kg of ketamine, which have a street value of more than NT$10 million (US$302,000), can be used to produce at least 1 million ecstasy pills. Ketamine is a non-barbiturate narcotic. As it costs far less than heroin or amphetamine, it has become a favorite of drug traffickers.

■ Show
Cycle show attracts buyers
This year's Taipei International Cycle Show -- the largest bicycle industry exhibition in Asia -- is expected to attract more than 4,000 foreign buyers, including several international enterprises, said the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), which organized the event. The show, which opened on Saturday in the Taipei World Trade Center and will last until tomorrow, comprises a total of 2,299 booths set up by 694 companies, marking unprecedented growth in scale, a TAITRA official said yesterday. The official said that the number of foreign buyers would likely break the 4,000 mark. Major purchasers -- including the top British bike company Halfords, the US-based Trek and Italy's Lampa SPA -- have sent representatives to visit the show and conduct purchasing negotiations with exhibiting companies. TAITRA has organized up to 100 bike trade consultation meetings for those interested in placing orders.

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