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SCMP Reporter

CAMPAIGNING for mayoral elections in Taipei and Kaohsiung next month was launched yesterday.

  In a recent poll in Taipei, the candidate of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Chen Shui-pien, led his rivals, incumbent Huang Ta-chou of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) and Jaw Shaw-kang of the New Party (NP) by only three per cent, for the election on December 3.

  But Chao Yung-mau, professor of political science at the Taiwan National University, said yesterday that the poll had a margin of error of between five and 10 per cent.

  And the race between the DPP and the KMT was so close that a small share taken by the NP would mean a major difference to the final outcome, Professor Chao said at a pre-election seminar in Hong Kong yesterday.

  A three per cent share of votes by the NP, he argued, could endanger the position of the KMT in Taipei.

  This is the first time that the posts of mayor in Taipei and Kaohsiung are to be decided by public vote.

  Taiwan's 16 million voters will also elect a new governor, provincial assembly and Taipei and Kaohsiung city councils.

  But William Wang, a KMT legislator, said Taiwan society had become too politicised.

  Mr Wang said taxi drivers in Taipei had so strong a political orientation that they would throw out people who held different views.

  The dichotomies of Taiwan independence verses reunification with the mainland, and Taiwanese verses mainlander are still the major issues in campaigns.



Mayoral campaign under way