The Core Pacific City shopping mall continued "trial" sales yesterday despite the Taipei City Go-vernment's warnings not to open for business until it passes its final fire safety inspection and receives an operating license.
While mall officials denied that the move was a public challenge to the authority of the city government, city officials said that they would keep issuing tickets until the mall obtained an operating license.
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
According to standard practice, the mall will not be allowed to apply for an operating license until it first passes fire safety checks.
Although the main structure of the building has passed a preliminary safety check, it has not yet passed the second-phase check, which is conducted after interior furnishings have been installed.
Ruan Hsin-nang (阮信囊), vice president of Core Pacific City, said that they have a legitimate reason to continue "trial" sales, which are considered illegal by the city government.
"We do not dare challenge the authority of the city government. However, the fact is that trial sales are a popular practice with shopping centers before they officially open. Besides, no existing laws forbid this," he said. Yuan said that only through trial sales can they find out whether the facility is genuinely safe and if the services provided meet customer needs.
Originally scheduled to hold a grand opening ceremony yesterday morning, management scaled down the event to an "appreciation" cocktail party and continued "trial" sales which began on Monday.
After inspecting the fire safety system on Monday, the Fire Department issued a first warning yesterday, requesting that mall management improve the system within a month or to face a fine of between NT$6,000 and NT$30,000.
The Department of Construction Management also issued a NT$60,000 ticket on Monday for management failure to obtain an operating license before opening for business. The department may issue another ticket in a month's time if the mall is still operating without a license.
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