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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ TOURISM

PRC bank chief visits

People's Bank of China Deputy Governor Su Ning (蘇寧) arrived in Taiwan yesterday, leading a 22-member delegation to attend a seminar on the development of bills finance markets on both sides of the Strait. Su was scheduled to arrive last week for the seminar but postponed the trip because of the Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan from Aug. 30 through Friday. Su said at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport that the Dalai Lama's visit to Taiwan was “regrettable” because it had “adversely affected peace in the Strait.” Nonetheless, Su said, his presence in Taipei shows that Beijing was still willing to make every effort to maintain the positive momentum of cross-strait relations. Aside from attending the seminar, which is starting today, Su will visit financial and banking institutions and travel to central and southern Taiwan during his stay.



■ SPORTS

Prizes to be auctioned

The Kaohsiung Organizing Committee said yesterday it would auction 7,803 unclaimed prizes from the World Games lucky draws and donate the proceeds to Typhoon Morakot relief efforts. The unclaimed prizes include the grand prize, a house, and the first prize, an imported car, said Emily Hsu (??, chief executive officer of the World Games 2009 Kaohsiung Organizing Committee. The Kaohsiung City Government is conducting a comprehensive review of the games and will publish the results when completed, Hsu said. The auction of the unclaimed prizes will be held at the end of this month after the review is completed, Hsu said. Of the 8,573 prizes that were up for grabs in the World Games draws, only 770 were claimed, Hsu said.



■ FISHING

Sierra Leone to deport 11

A court in Sierra Leone on Friday ordered the deportation of 11 fishermen from Taiwan after their boats were intercepted in the west African nation's exclusive zone, immigration officials said on Sunday. Each of the men was fined US$1,000 and were to be deported yesterday, the officials said on condition of anonymity. The two trawlers carrying the 11 men were caught in late July by a joint Sierra Leone Navy and US Coast Guard team patrolling the country's territorial waters. US Ambassador June Carter Perry recently said at an event in the capital, Freetown, that illegal fishing, drug trafficking and the smuggling of commodities were costing Sierra Leone US$100 million a year. “An enforcement of commercial fishing regulations could be major sources of duly needed income for the government and people of Sierra Leone,” she said.



■ TOURISM

Sun Moon Lake activities

A series of promotional activities will be launched to attract visitors to Sun Moon Lake as mounting concern about a possible swine flu outbreak takes a toll on the region's tourist industry, an official said yesterday. Tseng Kuo-chi (曾國基), director of the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration, said that average hotel occupancy in the region fell 15 percent year-on-year in the second half of last month. The activities will include a free lakeside concert by renowned violinist Lin Cho-liang (林昭亮) tomorrow and a mass cross-lake swimming contest on Sept. 20. On Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, fireworks shows will be staged near Sun Moon Lake to mark Mid-Autumn Festival. An international marathon will be held on Oct. 11 at Sun Moon Lake, with 8,000 athletes and cheerleaders from home and abroad expected to participate.
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