Soap opera fans may no longer be able to watch their favorite programs because the Government Information Office (GIO) is considering banning soap operas produced by Japan, Korea, China and Hong Kong on prime time TV.
GIO Minister Pasuya Yao (
"We are indeed assessing the proposal," he said. "The goal is to see more locally produced programs on TV. To that end, we are thinking of amending the existing laws or adjusting administrative orders to encourage more locally produced TV programs so that local actors and actresses will have more job opportunities."
Lawmakers are divided over the plan.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Pan Wei-kang (潘維剛) said that the GIO should respect the free market instead of restricting foreign TV content.
"We support the GIO's plan to offer government funding to help local TV producers make better programs," Pan said. "However, we are sorry to hear that the GIO is planning to suppress foreign programs, when it should be looking into why they are more popular than local ones."
KMT Legislator Kuo Su-chun (郭素春) said Yao was "excessively strict in correcting errors."
He joked that Yao might consider closing down CKS International Airport so that foreigners could be prevented from entering the country altogether.
DPP Legislator Lin Chung-mo (
Typhoon Usagi yesterday had weakened into a tropical storm, but a land warning issued by the Central Weather Administration (CWA) was still in effect in four areas in southern Taiwan. As of 5pm yesterday, Tropical Storm Usagi was over waters 120km south-southwest of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), the southernmost tip of Taiwan proper, and was moving north at 9kph, CWA data showed. The storm was expected to veer northeast later yesterday. It had maximum sustained winds of 101kph, with gusts of up to 126kph, the data showed. The CWA urged residents of Kaohsiung, Pingtung County, Taitung County and the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春) to remain alert to
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