Mainland's invitation puts woman in trouble

Taiwan authorities yesterday vowed to punish an island businesswoman reported to have accepted an appointment to a key mainland body.

Huang Tzu-yu,, deputy head of a Beijing-based association of Taiwanese investors and holder of a Taiwan-issued passport, reportedly accepted an invitation to join the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Sheu Ke-sheng, a vice-chairman of the Cabinet's Mainland Affairs Council, said the 'time was not right' for Ms Huang to accept such an offer.

Other Taiwanese have served on the CPPCC before, but all were defectors.

Mr Sheu said the law required Ms Huang to obtain permission from Taiwan before accepting an appointment to a mainland government body.

The Government would punish Ms Huang according to regulations spelled out in a 1992 statute covering relations between Taiwan and the mainland.