Taipei - Taiwan's top bookstore chain, Eslite Bookstore, said Monday it was considering expansion of its operation by opening branches in Hong Kong and China.

"We will in the next year or two actively evaluate the markets in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing to prepare for our expansion in the Greater China area," said Wu Ching-yu, chairman of the Eslite group, in a news conference in Taipei.

He said the group's expansion in the region, especially China, is a must if Eslite is to connect to the world.

Taipei - Taiwan's year-on-year exports dropped 28.6 per cent in February as demand declined amid global downturn, the Finance Ministry said Monday.

The amount of exports slipped to 12.59 billion US dollars in February, down 5.03 billion US dollars, or 28.6 per cent, from a year earlier, registering a decline for the sixth straight month, the ministry said in a statement.

Taipei  - Taiwan on Monday launched the new Taipei Port, hoping to develop it into an Asia-Pacific transshipment hub and a main shipping link between Taiwan and China.

President Ma Ying-jeou presided over the launch ceremony, which sits at the mouth of the Tamsui River facing the Taiwan Strait.

"The launch of the Taipei Port is vital for Taiwan's becoming a transshipment hub ... and that is why I, shortly after my inauguration [on May 20, 2008], approved opening air, sea and tourism links with China," he said.

Taipei  - Taiwan's Consumer Foundation recently warned consumers to avoid using disposable eating utensils because they may contain high levels of lead.

Coloured eating utensils, especially the yellow, orange and green ones, are particularly hazardous because of their high lead content.

The foundation issued the warning after checking the health hazard posed by 41 kinds of disposable eating utensils sold by shopping malls or used at fast-food outlets.

The samples included disposable bowls, spoons, drinking straws and utensils for stirring coffee. Of these, up to 14 per cent contained a high level of lead which was almost at Taiwan's permissible level of 100 parts per million (ppm).

Taipei - Taiwan's baseball team apologized to Taiwan fans Saturday after humiliating defeats by South Korea and China in the first round of the second World Baseball Classic.

Taiwan lost 9-0 to South Korea on Friday and 4-1 to China on Saturday, missing the chance to advance to the second round of the 16-nation tournament.

The Taiwan team will return home Sunday, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the World Classic.

Taipei - Taiwan's pool champion Wu Chia-ching, unhappy about low pay and no guarantee of a job after retirement, plans to become a Singapore citizen and play for Singapore.

Wu, 20, decided to quit Taiwan after his salary demands were not met by Taiwan sports officials and the Chinese-Taipei Billiard Association stripped him of the right to play for Taiwan.

Taiwan media said Wu's decision to change sides would hurt the moral of Taiwan athletes who were not getting enough help from the state in training and attending overseas competitions.