Taiwan authorities say they are considering fining Sally Wu, a
well-known journalist with Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, and three
Taiwan businesspeople after they were elected to government
advisory bodies on the mainland.
Sally Wu is a member of China's southern Guangdong Province's political consultative
conference, while three Taiwan businesspeople were elected to a
municipal advisory body in the province's city of Dongguan.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said the four could be fined
between 100,000 to 500,000 New Taiwan Dollars if it is confirmed
they still hold official residency status on the island.
If so the council said the four violated "cross-straits
regulations" which restricts Taiwan residents from holding official
posts on the Chinese mainland.
The four people may even face additional fines, it said.
Sally Wu said she was elected as a Hong Kong resident to the
Guangdong conference and that she has lived and worked in Hong Kong
for 14 years.
Chen Shaoji, chairman of Guangdong political consultative
conference, said Sally Wu as a Hong Kong resident was eligible for
the election.
Yang Yi, spokesman with Taiwan Affairs Office of the State
Council, said earlier, "We support the participation of Taiwan
compatriots in political affairs."
(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2007)