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Taiwan Quick Take

■ TELECOMS
Chunghwa cuts ADSL fees
The National Communi-cations Commission (NCC) ruled on Friday that the partially state-owned Chunghwa Telecom Corp must cut its monthly charges by 5.4 percent for data transmission services through asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSL). NCC officials said at least 3.7 million ADSL users will benefit from the rate cut, the enactment of which will be dated April 1. Officials anticipated the drop would boost the popularity of broadband services. The cut means that the 256K/64K monthly charge will drop from NT$200 to NT$180, while the 1M/64K fee will drop from NT$410 to NT$388, 2M/256K from NT$440 to NT$416 and 8M/640K from NT$650 to NT$615.

■ DIPLOMACY
Taipei to host summit
Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) said over the weekend that a summit meeting between Taiwan and its African allies was scheduled to take place in Taipei in September. He said the theme of the summit would be to help Taiwan's allies cope with the challenges of globalization. Issues to be discussed at the summit meeting will include environmental protection, biotourism, solar energy, medical care, healthcare and agriculture. He said the purpose of the summit was not to compete with China for "dollar diplomacy," adding that Taiwan cannot afford such egregious spending, although it is able and willing to help its allies cope with globalization. China spent as much as US$20 billion hosting the Forum on China-African Cooperation recently, Huang said.

■ HEALTH
Food allergies prevalent
As many as 19 percent of Taiwanese have food allergies, a survey released yesterday showed. The survey was conducted by the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, the Shin Kong Wu Ho Su Memorial Hospital, the Tri-Service General Hospital, the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, the Kaohsiung General Hospital and the Tzu-chi Buddhist General Hospital. Among the more-than 30,000 people surveyed, 13 percent of children up to three years of age, 20 percent of people six to 12 years of age and 17 percent of adults had food allergies. The survey found that chicken, eggs, milk, mangoes and peanuts, and shellfish such as crabs, clams and shrimp, were the most common kinds of allergy-causing foods.

■ SOCIETY
Tzu Chi to hold events
The Buddhist Compassionate Relief Tzu Chi Foundation will hold a series of activities next month to mark its 41st anniversary, foundation officials announced yesterday. Tzu Chi, a non-profit organization founded in 1966 by Dharma Master Cheng Yen (證嚴法師), is widely known for the relief aid it has provided to many regions of the world. Tzu Chi officials said that in addition to the foundation's missions of charity, medicine, education and culture, Tzu Chi volunteers have spared no efforts educating people about the necessity of recycling. In 2003 alone, Tzu Chi's 40,000 volunteers helped recycle 123,000 tonnes of garbage in Taiwan. Responding to the issue of global warming, Tzu Chi will also hold a two-week large-scale exhibition, starting on May 6, in front of Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei to raise awareness of environmental protection issues. The charity will also hold several activities around the country on Mother's Day, May 13, to wash the image of Buddha.

■ DIPLOMACY
Japanese to inspect rail
A parliamentary delegation from Japan will arrive next month to inspect the nation's first high-speed railway, built partly on a model based on Japan's Shinkansen system. The 15-member delegation, led by Hisaoki Kamei, secretary-general of the Japanese People's New Party, will depart for Taipei next week. It will be the first time members of both the Japanese House of Representatives and House of Councilors have formed a delegation to congratulate Taiwan since the high-speed railway began full operations in early March. The system, which uses electrical machinery equipment and coaches from the Shinkansen system, has received much attention in Japan. Political observers said that the delegation's visit was expected to elevate further the profile of the 345km railway in Japan.

■ TAXES
Taxes now more convenient
Taxpayers can now pay business and household taxes at designated convenience stores starting this year if the amount of money to be paid does not exceed NT$20,000, National Tax Administration officials said yesterday. Business tax can be paid between Tuesday and May 10 and household tax can be paid between Tuesday and May 31, the officials said. More than 29,000 small businesses in Taipei with monthly turnover below NT$200,000 now pay business taxes amounting to no more than NT$20,000 per year, the officials said. The convenience stores that have been authorized to collect tax payments include Hi-Life, FamilyMart, Nikomart, 7-Eleven and OK, which have a total of more than 8,000 outlets nationwide, the officials said.

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