Preemptive measures against situations that could damage the nation’s dignity during the Olympics are in place, Executive Yuan Spokeswoman Vanessa Shih (史亞平) quoted Premier Liu Chao-shiuan’s (劉兆玄) as saying yesterday.
“The premier assured the public that the government will cautiously handle any situations to prevent the nation’s dignity from being damaged,” Shih told a press conference.
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) also urged the public to focus more on the athletes participating in the Games than on “political issues,” adding that the country will not boycott the opening ceremony.
Council Vice Chairman Chang Liang-jen (張良任) said he realized the public attached great importance to the country’s international space and opportunities to participate in international organizations and activities.
“Don’t let the political disputes affect the performance of our athletes,” he said. “It is a good way to expand our international presence if they perform well.”
In related news, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) arrived in Beijing yesterday to attend the opening ceremony today at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤). Wu will watch the Taiwanese baseball team’s first match of the Games against the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), will also meet Hu tonight.
The Taipei Department of Health yesterday said it has launched a probe into a restaurant at Far Eastern Sogo Xinyi A13 Department Store after a customer died of suspected food poisoning. A preliminary investigation on Sunday found missing employee health status reports and unsanitary kitchen utensils at Polam Kopitiam (寶林茶室) in the department store’s basement food court, the department said. No direct relationship between the food poisoning death and the restaurant was established, as no food from the day of the incident was available for testing and no other customers had reported health complaints, it said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. Later
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