Despite the rain and cold, people have been lining up outside President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) family residence in Kuantien Township (官田), Tainan County, to receive a lucky hongbao (紅包), or red envelope, from the hands of the president on Lunar New Year's Day.
Many have staked out a spot in line days ahead of time by placing a stool or a chair in their place.
Presidential Office Spokesman David Lee (
PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES
In addition to the red envelopes, the president will treat villagers to a lunch banquet featuring fried rice noodles and fish ball soup, Lee said.
The presidential tradition was begun by former president Lee Teng-hui (
The amount of money in the envelopes was reduced from NT$200 to NT$10 in 2004 because of an anti-vote-buying law that limits gifts given by candidates to voters to no more than NT$30.
The Presidential Office yesterday gave a sneak preview of the red envelope Chen will hand out this year. It bears the images of Taiwan and the world with "2008 UN for Taiwan/Peace Forever" written in English.
It also bears the Chinese characters "入聯納福/守護台灣" (join the UN, protect Taiwan). The Chinese names of the president and first lady are printed on the bottom left corner.
The government last year launched a campaign to join the UN under the name "Taiwan."
David Lee said that Chen will hand out about 20,000 red envelopes, each containing an NT$10 coin.
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