* Spot checks reveal extent of commission shops pay Oct 4, 2007
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said yesterday that souvenir shops in Hualian and Taitung often paid 30 percent commission on goods they sold to tour guides and tour bus drivers who brought tourists to their stores ... The practice was discovered during a field trip on Tuesday, in which ministry and other agency officials made unannounced inspections in popular tourist areas in Hualian and Taitung. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
* Doing business in an unjust China Sep 21, 2007
Amid a management dispute over the Taiwanese-Chinese Shin Kong Place joint-venture in Beijing, Chinese Beijing Hualian Group forcibly took over ownership of the department store by bringing in more than 200 "security officers" before firing all Taiwanese executives without warning, accusing them of accepting bribes relating to the construction of the store ... Taiwanese were utterly astonished by Beijing Hualian's illegal and predatory behavior because they don't understand the facts about... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
* European problems a warning for Taiwanese Sep 17, 2007
Take for example the case of Shin Kong Place -- a joint venture of the Shin Kong Group and the Beijing Hualian Group where the latter attempted to take over ownership -- at a time when cross-strait relations were tense. On Sept. 11, the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, which represents European business interests there, released its seventh annual European Business in China Position Paper. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
* Taiwan News Quick Take Sep 17, 2007
The Shanghai Hualian Pharmaceutical Co produced the drugs. The ministry said that the factories manufacturing the drugs had been closed. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
* Shin Kong, China partner settle dispute Sep 13, 2007
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store (sTV) and Beijing Hualian Group (_p) announced yesterday that they had settled a dispute over their joint-venture operations in the Chinese capital and would continue with the partnership ... "Beijing Hualian reckoned the incident was a misunderstanding and has apologized," the statement said ... The alleged crime was reported by Beijing Hualian, which accused some Taiwanese executives of accepting bribes and conflict of interests relating to... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
* Shin Kong employees return to Taiwan Sep 4, 2007
But the retailer remained low key over the dispute with Beijing Hualian Group (_p), saying only that it would continue negotiating with its Chinese partner over the joint venture's operation and development. "This issue is a business dispute between two sides about the concept of management as well as about rights and obligations. Shin Kong will conduct friendly negotiations [with Hualian] in compliance with the venture contract, company charter and the related regulations," Shin Kong... (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
* Shin Kong working to settle dispute with PRC partner Sep 1, 2007
Shin Kong and China's top retailer, Beijing Hualian Group (_p), established the 50/50 joint venture in the Chinese capital in April, with total investment reaching 750 million yuan (US$99 million) ... The Chinese-language China Times reported yesterday that Hualian had accused Shin Kong managers in Beijing of taking bribes and had reported the matter to the police ... Hualian's spokesman could not be reached for comment. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- Business)
Typhoon Sepat causes heavy agriculture losses in Taiwan Aug 19, 2007
Hualian, the prime growing areas for pomelos, has reported great losses of the fruit. Over 90 percent of pomelos in Hualian's Hegang has been destroyed by the typhoon, leaving estimated losses of 200 million New Taiwan Dollars, the local media said ... The heavy losses of pomelo in Hualian is expected to affect the supply of the fruit and drive the price high. (Xinhuanet, China)
Taiwan store chain comes to Beijing Apr 17, 2007
Developed by Beijing Guohua Real Estate Co Ltd, Shin Kong Place is a 50-50 joint venture between SKM and Beijing Hualian, the sixth-largest player in the industry. "Beijing is an enticing market because of the coming Olympics and that's why we decided to land here first," said Steven Wu, general manager of Hualian Shin Kong Department Store (Beijing) Co Ltd. ... The group is said to be planning to expand into also, but Wu refused to elaborate, emphasizing that SKM is currently giving top... (People's Daily Online, China)
* Suhua Freeway's future undecided as EPA balks Jan 19, 2007
This needs to be carried out before they can schedule another time to review the controversial scheme, which would connect Ilan and Hualian counties. The meeting to review the project ended early yesterday afternoon. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
* Tourism industry, artists oppose Suhua Freeway Jan 18, 2007
"What the government should create in Hualian and Taitung is an atmosphere similar to that of Bali Island in Indonesia, where people can take a five-day holiday and relax," hotelier Stanley Yeh (Y) said. "Please save the NT$100 billion (US$3.125 billion) [the amount needed for the construction] and develop a better strategy for the East Coast," he said. (Taipei Times, Taiwan -- World)
