兩岸今實現周末包機及大陸居民赴台遊
China and Taiwan start (7/04) regular direct flights across the Taiwan Strait for the first time since 1949.
海協海基兩會恢復會談。海峽兩會今早(6/12)在北京釣魚台國賓館恢復停頓十年的會談，海基會董事長江丙坤同海協會會長陳雲林在會前握手問好。海峽兩會(6/13)簽訂協議，落實周末包機及大陸客赴台觀光。兩岸周末包機，會在七月實施，每星期開出十八個航班，大陸五個城市會設有航點，包括北京，南京，上海，廣州及廈門；而大陸觀光客會以旅行團形式赴台觀光，首團在七月四號成行，每日最多三千人，一年後再作檢討。A Taiwanese delegation arrived in Beijing for talks on expanding charter flights between Taiwan and China -- the first formal discussions between the sides since 1999. Taiwan and China Move Closer to Travel Pact 6/13 SB121325027601567533 Taiwan, China to Discuss Air Travel 6/11 SB121319056821164193 SB121312652216561487
3/22中選會晚上宣布國民黨候選人馬英九在總統大選以贏得近六成選票勝出當選下任總統，馬英九贏得765萬票，拋離民進黨對手謝長廷超過221萬票。
Opposition Wins Taiwan's Election 3/22 SB120618957094957379
China Tones Down Rhetoric Ahead of Island's Election 3/20 SB120595079001349181
Taiwan Heads for Thaw With China 3/20 SB120595549119949419
OJ: After Chen 3/20 SB120596466272649993
OJ: Taiwan Strait Tightrope 3/18 SB120579300354643233
Presidential polls (2008/3/22) after a new legislature is elected (1/12), the oppostion KMT is well placed to dominate both. 馬英九搭配蕭萬長 謝長廷搭配蘇貞昌 Taiwan Election Notebook
Taiwan's presidential election rivals have traded accusations over the economy and relations with China in a head-to-head debate before the March 22 vote. With former Taipei mayor Ma Ying-jeou holding an apparently unassailable lead in opinion polls, the televised encounter (3/09) was seen as one of the last chances for rival Frank Hsieh to make inroads. Mr Ma pledged to revitalise the economy by allowing Chinese to invest in the local property market, introducing more Chinese tourists and launching direct transport links with the mainland. He is in favour of closer ties with China, while Mr Hsieh and the DPP lean toward independence. Mr Hsieh said he was strongly opposed to Mr Ma's proposal of a "common market" with China, saying that recognising Chinese qualifications would threaten the jobs of Taiwanese workers.
Taiwan's election commission says the island will hold a referendum next month on joining the United Nations under the name "Taiwan". The controversial referendum, proposed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party will be held alongside the island's presidential elections. The commission also gave the green light to a second referendum, proposed by the opposition, on whether the island should seek to join the UN under its official title "the Republic of China" or "Taiwan" or another suitable name. Analysts say both referendums, to be held on March 22, will upset China which regards Taiwan as part of its territory. 中央選舉委員會表決通過，下月廿二日總統選舉日同時進行兩項公投，包括民進黨提出以"台灣名義加入聯合國"及國民黨提出的"重返聯合國"公投。委員會又確認，國民黨馬英九拍檔蕭萬長及民進黨謝長廷伙拍蘇貞昌的總統選舉候選人資格。中選會秘書長鄧天祐說委員是以六對四票通過進行公投，會與立委選舉一樣選民要分開領取公投票。
Chang Chun-hsiung and his cabinet have resigned en masse (1/24). The resignation is a formality before a new parliament convenes on February 1, but it allows President Chen Shui-bian to reshuffle the cabinet. A new line-up is due to be announced on Monday. The resignations come less than two weeks after the governing Democratic Progressive Party's crushing defeat in parliamentary elections. President Chen stepped down as DPP chairman immediately after what he admitted had been the "worst setback" in the party's history. 行政院長張俊雄下午率閣員總辭。張俊雄表示，總統陳水扁希望他做到五月總統任期屆滿為止，不過民進黨總統參選人謝長廷在高層協商時提出由企業負責人組閣，他與陳水扁都支持謝長廷的政見因此提出總辭。消息說陳水扁明日會決定是否由張俊雄留任行政院長或延攬新人選，而前副院長的林信義和葉菊蘭都是可能人選。Chen Shui-bian Monday (1/28) rejected the resignation tendered by Premier Chang and his cabinet, citing the need for political stability.
Chen Shui-bian is planning a visit to the disputed Spratly islands in the South China Sea. The visit is aimed at underscoring Taipei's claim to the disputed group, but the move is likely to spark tensions in the region. The trip, which would come before presidential polls on March 22, is aimed at drumming up support for Frank Hsieh, the ruling independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party's candidate in the election. The Taipei-based United Daily News says President Chen, who is to retire in May after eight years in office, plans to take an air force plane to the Taiping Islet, the biggest island in the Spratlys. Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, China, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim all or part of the potentially oil-rich Spratlys. The news comes amid revelations that Taiwan staged a clandestine test flight on its newly finished runway on Spratly's Taiping Island. Secretary general of the Chinese Council for Advanced Policy Studies in Taiwan, Dr Andrew Yang, says that President Chen's move provides him with the opportunity to flex his political muscle before leaving office. "He wants to demonstrate that he's very much in control of leadership and the position," he said. "In a way he also wants to emphasise approach for holding up the determination to protect the sovereignty of Taiwan including the Spratly islands." The rivalry over the Spratly islands came to light in the 1980s and early 1990s. But the situation has been improving since then and in 2002, China and ASEAN nations signed an agreement to resolve the dispute without use of force. Spratlys expert, Dr. Craig Snyder from Deakin University in Melbourne says that while the agreement has little teeth, countries have found other ways of working together. "A lot of what's happening on the ground is of a more practical aspect," he said. "Its on a bilateral and trilateral basis of some joint surveys, just generally cooperation over a whole number of issue, search and rescue, maritime security."
Malawi has ended 41 years of diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and established links with China. Malawi Foreign Affairs Minister Joyce Banda says (1/14) the African nation decided to switch from Taiwan after "careful consideration" of the benefits that it will receive from mainland China. Taiwan is now recognised by just 23, mostly small, impoverished countries, compared with 170 that recognise China in step with Beijing's "One China" diplomatic stance.
Taiwan's pro-independence DPP has suffered a crushing defeat overnight (1/12). After eight years in opposition, the KMT looks set to retake the Taiwanese presidency in March after the emphatic victory. President Chen Shui-bian has resigned as party chairman after DPP won only 27 of the 113 seats in Taiwan's legislature. KMT won 81 seats and says it will promote closer ties with mainland China. It now has enormous power to pass laws and shape government policy. DPP's poor electoral result has been attributed to a series of corruption scandals and a perception that the island's economy has stalled.
Taiwan Vote May Boost China Ties 1/14 SB120022867620786551
Taiwan's KMT Wins Big In Legislative Elections 1/12 SB120014547903386231
台灣立委選舉國民黨大勝，在113席中贏得超過三分二的81席，連同其他泛藍及無黨籍取得的5席，藍營控制立法院四分三議席；執政民進黨只得27席，陳水扁辭去黨主席職位。總統參選人謝長廷說自己責無旁貸願接任黨主席帶領民進黨渡過難關，并承諾如三月總統選舉失敗就退出政壇。立委選舉同時就國民黨提出反貪腐、民進黨提出追討國民黨黨產進行公投。由於兩議題都無一半選民領取選票，只得兩成六選民領票，未達到法定要求，因此兩項公投都被否決。
More than 17 million Taiwanese are eligible to vote for 113 seats. The Legislature has both candidates chosen locally and those elected on a party ticket. With the KMT ahead in the polls, the DPP has set itself a modest goal of 50 seats, to stop its rival achieving a powerful two-thirds majority.
台灣星期六(1/12)舉行立法委員選舉，總統陳水扁在台南造勢晚會說，國民黨與中共隔海唱和，若國民黨取得過半數立委議席，不只是國民黨的勝利亦是大陸的勝利。
Taiwanese Investors Look For Strong KMT Win 1/11 SB120003814946983565
Changing the Vote, Voting for Change 1/11 SB119999205756381583
Taiwan Vote May Set Stage For Warmer China Relations 1/09 SB119983206354075899
Taiwan's High Court has cleared opposition presidential candidate Ma Ying jeou of corruption and breach of trust charges. The high profile trial has ended (2007/12/28) ahead of next year's elections. Mr Ma was accused of misusing more than USD330k in expenses during his time as Taipei mayor from 1998 to 2006. If he had been convicted he could have been barred from standing in the March presidential election, which he is tipped to win. Mr Ma was chairman of the Kuomintang party until he resigned following his indictment but was cleared of misusing government expenses by a lower court in August (8/14). Prosecutors later appealed the verdict and added a new charge of breach of trust, which Mr Ma has now been cleared of. Taiwan's High Court has found the defendant had no intention to swindle money using his position nor engage in fraudulent acts.
Ma's popularity ratings has increased after the court cleared him of corruption linked charges. The China Times newspaper says (12/29) a record 45 per cent of respondents said they would pick Mr Ma and his colleague Vincent Siew in the presidential elections on March 22. The poll also shows Mr Ma's closest opponent, Frank Hsieh and former Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang had support from 24 per cent of the 805 respondents.
Chen Shui-bian is constitutionally obliged to step down. The DPP's nominee to succeed him is Frank Hsieh, a former prime minister who appears less suspicious of China than Mr Chen. KMT is fielding Ma Ying-jeou, a former mayor of Taipei who also wants to reach out to China. Again it will be a close-fought race. Even if the more pro-China Ma wins, he will be cautious in his dealings with the mainland for fear of being accused of selling out Taiwan. * At the same time as the presidential election, Mr Chen plans to hold a referendum on whether Taiwan should apply for United Nations membership using the name Taiwan instead of the island's formal title, the Republic of China. * Direct flights between Taiwan and the mainland may begin in 2008.
Chen Shui-bian has renewed his pledge that he would not declare independence during the last six months of his office. He told (11/12) visiting AIT chairman Raymond Burghardt that he would abide by the so-called "five nos" policy he had promised when he was first elected president in 2000. The "five nos" policy is a list of five things Taipei will not do that could lead to its independence. The visit comes as Mr Chen pushes for a referendum on whether to apply for United Nations membership under the name "Taiwan", despite opposition from Washington and rival Beijing. Chen insists the planned referendum alongside the March 22 presidential vote has nothing to do with independence but marks the keen desires of the 23 million people to attend the United Nations.
Taiwan has categorically rejected (10/16) Chinese President Hu Jintao's call for a peace agreement to be forged on the basis of Beijing's "one-China principle," which says the island is part of the mainland. In a statement, Taiwan's cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council said President Hu's statement of peace based on the one-China policy was "far away from reality."
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, instead, insisted that democracy be the basis of peaceful development between China and Taiwan. President Hu, addressing the opening of the ruling Communist Party's five-yearly Congress in Beijing on Monday (1/015), called for a peace agreement with long-time rival Taiwan, but insisted independence for the island would never be tolerated.
'One-China' again the stumbling block
China and Taiwan have differing interpretations of the one-China principle. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's China policymaking body, says the people of Taiwan would never accept "one country, two systems," the model used by Beijing to rule both Hong Kong and Macau. "Taiwan's sovereignty is owned by the 23 million in Taiwan and its future should be decided by themselves," the council said. And Taiwan government spokesman, Shieh Jhy-wey, rejected the call for a formal peace accord between the two rivals, saying it lacked any significance. "We will not discuss peace, unification, or any other issues with a regime that has suppressed the Tibetans, killed its own people and supported the military junta of [Burma]," he said.
Taiwan frequently castigates Beijing for its human rights policies, including its support for military or dictatorial governments abroad.
No-one will be watching China's Party Congress in October more closely than Taiwan. Following Beijing's passing of the anti-secession law in 2005, senior politicians from all parties in Taiwan would be watching for any signs of a more aggressive policy towards Taiwan. Any reshuffling of the military hierarchy would also alarm Taiwan.
President Chen Shui-bian has made a national address (10/10) saying China's military build-up is threatening world peace. In a National Day speech ahead of a parade aimed at underscoring Taiwan's defence capabilities, he also called on China to withdraw ballistic missiles that are aimed at the island. Taiwan featured its two home-developed missiles in the parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself. The missiles are the supersonic Hsiung-feng 3 ship-to-ship missile and the Tien Kung 3 anti-missile system. The defence ministry also for the first time allowed a glimpse of a locally developed unmanned surveillance plane that could be used to gather battlefield data. However, the island's first cruise missile, the Hsiung-feng 2E, which because of its range could reach the Chinese mainland, was not on display following reported pressure from Washington.
DPP has passed a resolution (2007/9/30) recommending a new constitution - with its implications of independence from China - in a move that will outrage both rival China and chief ally, the United States. After two hours of debate, about 300 representatives of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party approved a Normal Country Resolution, 民進黨全會通過正常國家決議文提出要早日完成台灣正名制定新憲法（正名制憲和入聯公投）which will serve as road map for the government in its efforts to create a Taiwan identity.
Prosecutors have indicted (9/21) Vice President Annette Lu and two other leading members of the ruling DPP on charges of corruption and forgery. The other two politicians are current DPP chairman and former prime minister, Yu Shyi-kun, and former foreign minister Chen Tan-sun. Director of the anti-corruption task force in the prosecutors' office says the trio has violated laws by using their positions as public servants to claim special expenses with false receipts.
台灣高檢署晚上決定，起訴副總統呂秀蓮，民進黨主席游錫坤及國安會秘書長陳唐山，偽造文書及貪污罪，指三人利用他人發票，核銷首長特別費。呂秀蓮對被起訴，表示晴天霹靂，強調特別費都是公款公用，無匯入帳戶，人格不容受到質疑。而游錫坤就宣佈，辭去民進黨主席，會尊重法律程序，相信司法制度會還他清白。至於明年搭檔參選總統的謝長延與蘇貞昌，就不獲起訴。民進黨秘書長林佳龍批評，控方偵辦藍綠陣營的特別費案時，持雙重標準。
The United Nations has blocked (9/20) Taiwan's latest quest for membership for the 15th consecutive year. A committee rejected a proposal, to be put to the General Assembly session, that Taiwan have representation and participation in the United Nations. The panel, on which all 192 UN members have a voice, made the decision in a closed meeting. Taiwan, expelled from the world body in 1971 in favor of China, has made repeated efforts to get back in, and this year applied for the first time under the name Taiwan instead of its formal title, Republic of China.
Chen: Taiwan Vote On UN Entry Together With Pres Poll (9/10)
On the Silk Road Again
SB118799573256708369
SB118799883677508444
Shorting China: There's a Will, But Which Way?
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TAIWAN
TAIWAN TIMELINE
BT-CO-20061019-721014 Democracy May Be The Winner In Taiwan Anti-Chen Campaign
BT-CO-20061016-700409 Opposition Attacks President's Constitution Plans
SB116095950237193446 Campaign to Oust Taiwan Chief Suffers Blow
Thousands of red-clad protesters thronged into downtown Taipei on Saturday (2006/9/09), demanding that Chen Shui-bian resign over a series of alleged corruption scandals involving his family and inner circle. Protest leader Shih Ming-teh, a former chairman of DPP who spent 25 years in prison in the 1960s - 80s for challenging Taiwan's now-deposed martial law regime, kicked off the protest in the broad boulevard adjacent to the ornate Presidential Office Building. SB115787551421858756
2006apr16 Hu Urges Talks With Rival Taiwan SB114517271164027019
BT-CO-20060415-000095 China Cuts Tariffs On Fruit, Fish From Taiwan
BT-CO-20060414-000915 Chen Accuses China Over Beijing Trade Seminar
BT-CO-20060413-008178 DPP Sacks Lawmakers In Corruption Scandal
BT-CO-20060413-008163 Lien Calls For Closer Economic Ties With China
BT-CO-20060412-008781 Lien Sets Off On China Visit
2006apr12 A12 Tougher Than It Looks SB114478966785123273
BT-CO-20060407-001021 Lien Plans To Meet China Pres Hu
BT-CO-20060404-000999 Taiwan Opposition Blocks US Arms Deal For 50th Time
2006apr03 SB114401525438814658 Trojan Pandas
BT-CO-20060331-002179 Taiwan Puts Conditions On Joining Olympic Torch Relay
BT-CO-20060331-001938 Taiwan Rejects Offer Of Pandas From Rival China
BT-CO-20060329-000052 Ma To Request Meeting With Pres
BT-CO-20060324-000084 DPP Cancels Debate On China Policies
BT-CO-20060323-005974 Ma: Defenses Must Be Overhauled Soon
BT-CO-20060322-001575 Taiwan Tightens Supervision Of Visitors From Rival China 积极管理 有效开放 政策审查 “金主”
SB114293417404203941 Taiwan's President Vows to Keep Status Quo With Beijing
BT-CO-20060321-002635 No Change In Commitments Given To US
BT-CO-20060320-007310 Taiwan Opposition Head: Party's Work Cut US Arms Deal Cost
BT-CO-20060320-000514 New US Envoy In Taiwan To Discuss Unification Controversy
BT-CO-20060320-000023 Taiwan To Remove Ex-Leader's Statues From Military Bases
BT-CO-20060319-001091 20,000 In Taiwan Protest Chen Moves On China,US Arms Deal
BT-CO-20060318-000121 Chen Tells Supporters China Won't Decide Taiwan's Future
BT-CO-20060316-011048 Ma Ying-jeou Heads To US
BT-CO-20060314-000996 Taiwan Sees Muted Observance Of "Anti-Aggression Day"
BT-CO-20060313-008755 Wen Accuses Taiwan Pres Of Pursuing Independence
BT-CO-20060312-000444 Protesters In Taiwan Decry End Of Reunification Panel
BT-CO-20060304-000096 Chen Aims For New Constitution By 2008
BT-CO-20060303-001771 Taiwan Says Termination Of Committee Hasn't Altered China Ties
AWSJ 2006mar01 A10, A13 Chen Lets Off Steam
SB114113125974285228 China Denounces Move
SB114104060029084139 Taiwan Ends Unification Guidelines
BT-CO-20060228-001234 Taiwan President Defends Ending Unification Body
BT-CO-20060228-001135 Taiwan Pres Reaffirms Support For End To Unification Body
BT-CO-20060228-000341 Taiwan Pres's Actions Threaten "Disaster"
BT-CO-20060227-009191 China Warns Taiwan Over Scrapping Of Unification Body
BT-CO-20060227-008569 Taiwan Pres Shuts Down Natl Unification Council
BT-CO-20060227-001575 Taiwan Leader Announces End Of Unification Body
AWSJ 2006feb28 A10
Chen Shui-bian 2006feb27 scrapped a policy-making body on unification with China and 15-year-old symbolic guidelines on eventual unification, a move that riled Beijing and alarmed Washington, although he said the move didn't mean Taiwan would push for formal independence. He made the announcement following a meeting with the National Security Council that the National Unification Council will cease functioning and the budget will no longer be appropriated. China earlier warned the move would set off a serious crisis in the region. The United States also fears the prospect of a military showdown between Taipei and Beijing. 终止国统会运作和国统纲领适用
BT_CO_20060223_000160 Reform Plan Not Step Toward Independence
BT-CO-20060222-009071 US, China Foreign Policy Leaders Discuss Asia Concerns
BT-CO-20060222-001059 Taiwan Pres Still Aims To Scrap China Unification Guides
SB114012513836776245 Sounding the Alarm on Taiwan
BT-CO-20060210-000884 Taiwanese Blame Chen More Than China Hu For Tension
AWSJ 2006feb09 A8 China chides Chen for unification comments
AWSJ 2006feb07 A13 Ma Ying-jeou commentary Taiwan's 'Pragmatic Path' SB113926633134866511
AWSJ 2006feb02 A11 Red Flags
BT-CO-20060131-007680 US Criticizes Taiwan President For China Speech
BT-CO-20060129-001997 Chen May Scrap China Unification Guidelines
AWSJ 2006jan19 A13 Chen Shui-bian's Last Hurrah FEER 2006jan/feb p34
AWSJ 2006feb01 A2
Chen CNY speech (2006jan29) softened Five Nos 四不一没有 and warned it was time to consider scrapping the island's National Unification Council and its guidelines on reunification. The council, set up in 1990, was a top policy-making body on reunification and has been dormant since pro-independence Chen took office in 2000. 废统论：废除国统会和国统纲领。成立于1990的国统会全称国家统一委员会，其任务为“研究并咨询有关国家统一之大政方针”。国统纲领为国家统一纲领之简称，纲领承认“大陆与台湾均是中国的领土，促成国家的统一应是中国人共同的责任”。
AWSJ 2006jan24 A10
Cabinet resigned en masse to pave the way for incoming premier Su Tseng-chang (陳水扁任命蘇貞昌為行政院長﹐陸委會前主任、民進黨立委蔡英文為行政院副院長), who named Tsai Ing-wen as his deputy.
AWSJ 2006jan23 A7 Direct flight Jan 20 - Feb 13.
AWSJ 2006jan20 A6 Finance minister Lin Chuan resigned.
AWSJ 2006jan18 A8 Taiwan Premier Frank Hsieh (行政院長謝長廷﹐高鐵建設弊案發生時任高雄市長) resigned to take responsibility for DPP's landslide defeat in the local elections.
AWSJ 2006jan16 A8
DPP chose former Premier Yu Shyi-kun (游锡堃), aged 57, as chairman after Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌曾任陳水扁幕僚長﹐在上個月地方選舉前任民進黨主席。幾度在地方政府任職﹐可能成為2008年大選民進黨總統候選人) stepped down to take responsibility for December 3 election loss.
AWSJ 2005dec06 A11, A13 Political landscape after Dec 3 elections
AWSJ 2005dec05 A3 Taiwan Elections Favor Opposition
AWSJ 2005sept29 A11 Hsieh commentary: Guiding China Toward Democracy
AWSJ 2005sept02 A7 Don't Belittle Taiwan's Effort To Defend Itself
SB113762531033150131 Talk of Taipei: First Citywide Wi-Fi Access
SB112484954980021501 Taiwan Fiddles
SB112180976808589992 Ma's Threat to Beijing
SB111558898492027644 An Unhealthy Split on Taiwan by MA YING-JEOU
2004oct10“中华民国就是台湾，台湾就是中华民国。”
2003yearend 公投法
2003sept28 台独时间表
2003may 公投制宪
2002aug03 一边一国论
Who's Who
Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九 Vice President 蕭萬長
Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁 Annette Lu 呂秀蓮
Premier 行政院長
劉兆玄 > 張俊雄 > Su Tseng-chang 蘇貞昌 > Frank Hsieh 謝長廷 高鐵建設弊案發生時任高雄市長 > Yu Shyi-kun 游锡堃
Tsai Ing-wen 行政院副院長 民進黨立委 蔡英文
SEF 海基會董事長江丙坤
Mainland Affairs Council 行政院大陸委員會/陆委会
Chairman 主任委員/主委 陸委會主委 Lai Shin-yuan 賴幸媛 > 陳明通 > Joseph Wu 吳釗燮
Vice Chairman Michael You
National Security Council Secretary General Chiou I-jen 國安會秘書長邱义仁
Chen Tan-sun 國安會秘書長陳唐山 (Presidential Office Chief of Staff Mark Tan-sun Chen)
Foreign Minister James Huang 外長歐鴻鍊 > 黄志芳
台灣駐日代表許世楷 6/16 resigned
Defense Minister Lee Tien-yu > Lee Jye 李杰
KMT Ma Ying-jeou/Vincent Siew 馬英九搭配蕭萬長
國民黨主席吳伯雄 榮譽主席連戰 立法院長王金平
DPP Frank Hsieh/Su Tseng-chang 謝長廷搭配蘇貞昌
民進黨主席 謝長廷 > 陳水扁 > Yu Shyi-kun 游锡堃 > Su Tseng-chang 蘇貞昌 曾任陳水扁幕僚長
Shih Ming-teh 前民進黨主席施明德
KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen
New Party 新黨主席郁慕明
TSMC Chairman Morris Chang 台積電董事長張忠謀
Stan Shih, the founder of a personal computer business
Academia Sinica 中研院前院長李遠哲
AIT 美國在台協會 理事主席薄瑞光 台北辦事處處長楊甦棣
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The government in Hong Kong has shut all kindergartens and primary schools for two weeks to contain an outbreak of flu. A government-appointed panel of experts is probing the deaths of three children over the last two weeks. The two older children were infected with seasonal flu, while the cause of illness in the youngest child is unknown. The health scare has not been linked to the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu but the government's decision to close the schools has brought back memories of 2003, when an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) hit Hong Kong. Health Secretary York Chow says the decisison to close the schools was taken because the number of infected children seems higher this year. 鑑於近日爆發流感潮，食物及衛生局長周一嶽3/12晚上宣布，全港小學、幼稚園及幼兒園，明日起停課兩星期，提早放復活節假期。
A cross-delta bridge linking Hong Kong, Macau and the southern chinese city of Guangdong has been given the green light. In a deal struck at the weekend (3/02) the three governments agreed on funding arrangements to cover any shortfall between construction costs and investment by the private developer that wins the bid to build the bridge. The idea of a bridge linking the three cities was first mooted in the early 1980s but disputes over issues such as the location of checkpoints and the sharing of construction costs bogged it down. Spanning some 30 kilometres the bridge is expected to reduce travelling time between the three cities from an hour to 20 minutes.
David Li, a prominent Hong Kong banker and legislator, resigned from Hong Kong's cabinet Saturday (2/16) amid controversy over an insider-trading case involving shares of Dow Jones & Co. 東亞銀行主席李國寶因涉道瓊斯內幕交易案辭去行政會議成員一職。David Li, a former Dow Jones board member, has reached a tentative agreement with U.S. securities regulators to pay more than USD8 million to settle allegations of insider trading during last year's takeover battle for the U.S. media group. Mr. Li, chairman and chief executive of his family's Hong Kong-based Bank of East Asia, would neither admit nor deny wrongdoing, according to people familiar with the talks between Mr. Li and the Securities and Exchange Commission.David Li Quits a Hong Kong Post 2/19 SB120316753848673877
Trading in Dow Jones Subject of SEC Accord 2/06 SB120223355980644551
Text of SEC Release on Li 2/05 SB120223334255544541
Dow Jones's Li Is to Settle 1/29 SB120153351488322193
A female Hong Kong pop star at the centre of a sex photos scandal has been banned from singing at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. The South China Morning Post reports singer Gillian Chung was one of a number of starlets pictured romping naked with singer-actor Edison Chen in photos downloaded from his laptop when he took it in for repairs and widely circulated on the internet. The popular 27-year-old singer had been due to perform at the Olympics opening ceremony in August, but has now been dumped because of the scandal. The ceremony's artistic director, Zhang Yimou, decided to take Chung off the bill after the scandal broke and had replaced her and another Hong Kong star - not involved in the photos incident - with Chinese pop act A-One, the newspaper said. Baidu.com Censured For Allegedly Spreading Racy Photos of Stars 2/19 SB120343646502377007 Sexy Photo Gate Mesmerizes Hong Kong, China and Sparks Police Crackdown, Backlash 2/15 SB120308887950171619 OJ: PhotoGate 2/19 SB120337261318675199
A journalist jailed in China on spying charges has now returned to Hong Kong (2/06) after being freed on parole. A Hong Kong-based reporter for Singapore's Straits Times, Ching Cheong was detained in 2005 and later jailed for five years for spying for Taiwan. His return came after intense lobbying from activists, his family and politicians. The Hong Kong Journalists' Association says the terms of Ching's release are not yet known, and it is unclear whether he will have his full political rights restored. The developments have coincided with the jailing of dissident writer Lu Gengsong for four years on a charge of inciting subversion over essays he wrote critical of the government
A former Macau public works minister (1/30) has been convicted of graft and sentenced to 27 years in prison, in the biggest corruption trial in the city's history. Ao Man-long was accused of accepting bribes relating to 41 public works projects, including contracts linked to casino construction. It's said he amassed a personal fortune of more than USD100 million. Earlier, Mr Ao said he regrets the 'disturbances that the whole case has caused', but denied any wrong-doing. Macau has enjoyed an unprecedented boom since it opened up its casino market in 2001. 澳門終審法院裁定前運輸工務司司長歐文龍，四十項收受商人賄款批出工務工程及十三項清洗黑錢罪名成立，判監二十七年及罰款二十四萬元。
Thousands of protesters have marched through the streets of Hong Kong calling for democratic elections. Last month the Chinese government announced that direct elections for Hong Kong will be delayed until at least the year 2017. On Sunday (1/13), thousands of Hong Kong residents protested that the move represents a broken promise on the part of the Chinese government. Some Hong Kong residents have criticised the protest saying that a delayed democratic election is still a promise of democracy. Democrats, who have been waiting for the universal suffrage promised under the Basic Law since the British handover to Chinese rule in 1997, say they will fight Beijing's ruling.
共建維港委員會討論中環海濱規劃的諮詢結果。港府顧問報告指有關皇后碼頭及天星鐘樓應在原址或附近重置，意見分歧。但市民大致都同意中環海濱設計要照顧綠化及配合附近建築。A Borrowed Place on Borrowed Time 1/02 SB119923530850161133
Snags abound in China plan to boost Hong Kong suffrage 12/31
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China has ruled out (12/29) full democracy in Hong Kong by 2012 but flagged universal suffrage for 2017. The decision is likely to upset democrats pushing for 2012 as a deadline for changes in the way the chief executive and the legislature are chosen.
A report on reform was submitted by Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang to China's National People's Congress. The congress says direct election of Hong Kong chief executives and the entire legislature in the year 2012 shall not be implemented by the method of universal suffrage. Universal suffrage was guaranteed in the Basic Law established when Britain handed the territory back to China in 1997, but no timetable was set. Currently, only half of the 60 member legislature is directly elected. The rest of the seats are held by representatives of various business and professional groups, mostly loyal to Beijing. 全國人大常委會以全票通過，否決香港2012年雙普選，但2017年可先普選行政長官，之後最早可在2020年落實普選立法會。行政長官原則上可以在2016年前，向人大常委會提交報告，修改立法會直選同功能組別的議席比例，但要視乎社會到時的意見而決定。泛民主派立法會議員 民建聯主席譚耀宗 公民黨黨魁余若薇 自由黨主席田北俊 自由黨中常委總商會主席蔣麗莉 民主黨主席何俊仁 前主席李柱銘 前線劉慧卿 社會民主連線成員羅就 民間人權陣線
The Revolution of Chairman Li: China's Richest Man Leads Others to Give, Bucking Nation's Taboos 2007/11/02 SB119394575671179451
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