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Taiwan News Quick Take

A member of a family of woodcarvers in Sanyi Township, Miaoli County, poses with a wooden image of Taiwan they had carved. The family said they hoped Taiwanese would vote wisely in the upcoming elections and pay attention to candidates' qualifications and not their party color. PHOTO: YANG CHIEN-HUI, TAIPEI TIMES

■ EARTHQUAKES

Early morning temblor

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale rattled a large area of central Taiwan yesterday. There were no reports of damage or casualties, the Central Weather Bureau and police said. The tremor, located 15km southeast of Taichung City, struck at 2:48am, waking residents and sending some rushing outside. Though not particularly shallow at 23km, the quake was felt in at least 12 counties and as far away as Penghu, but the strongest effects were felt in Taichung City and to the south in Yuanlin (員林), Changhua County.



■ CULTURE

Creative output rising

The output of the creative culture industry is expected to top NT$55 billion (US$1.7 billion) by 2011, from NT$47.9 billion last year, and to create more than 6,000 job opportunities, an economic official said yesterday. The forecast came after the Council for Economic Planning and Development approved a plan by the Council for Cultural Affairs to boost the development of the arts and culture industry. Under the plan, NT$5.64 billion would be invested to develop this high value-added industry over the next four years, which could boost Taiwan's international profile, a Council for Cultural Affairs official said. Meanwhile, at a separate setting, Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday promised to be a president of "creativity" and "culture," saying he would increase government funding for the cultural industry from NT$20 billion to NT$30 billion.



■ HEALTH

Amoebiasis suspected

Fourteen patients in a psychiatric institution in Kaohsiung County were believed to have been infected with amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis), county health officials said yesterday. The officials said they were informed by Hualien County last Wednesday that nine patients who were transferred from Kaohsiung's Liang Jen Hospital to Yuli sanatorium had a high concentration of amoebic dysentery antibodies in their blood. Further tests showed that three of the nine were infected with the disease. The officials said they had begun disinfection work at Liang Jen Hospital and conducted tests on 105 patients. Fourteen of the patients were suspected to have been infected, although none had shown symptoms of diarrhea. Stool samples of the 14 patients will be collected three times during the next week to determine whether they have been infected, the officials said.



■ SOCIETY

Mausoleums still protected

The Ministry of National Defense said yesterday it would continue guarding the tombs of dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) and his son, president Chiang Ching-kuo (蔣經國), before handing over administration of the sites to the Taoyuan County Government. Ministry spokesman Yu Sy-tue (虞思祖) said in a briefing that following the closure on Monday of the mausoleum administration in Taoyuan County and the withdrawal of military guards at the two mausoleums, security would nevertheless continue to be provided at the sites. Ministry officials said that out of security concerns, before the handover of the mausoleums and their reopening, the military would only allow visits by Chiang family members. The Taoyuan County Government has said it would be willing to take over the administration of the two mausoleums, adding that the sites generate substantial tourism revenue.
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