英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

高鐵宣布從下月13日起，在離峰時段搭車，對號座票價打九二折。以北高為例，單趟就能省下135元。但因為自由座票價沒有同步優惠，比對號座還貴85元。站票竟然比坐票貴，讓民眾大呼，不合理，高鐵允諾可以換票到對號座。

不少民眾搭高鐵，都買自由座，站著就能少花錢。但現在高鐵宣布，下個月13日起，離峰時段，對號車票全面打九二折，但這也造成，同一班自由座，竟然比對號車票，還要貴。

以單程北高車票來說，離峰時段原價打完九二折，是1495元，比沒有離峰優惠的自由座1580元，足足少了85元，早就買好自由座的旅客應該非常嘔。

[[台灣高鐵公關 王平宇]]
“在那個時段，符合九二離峰的話，可以直接到我們車站窗口，都是不收手續費的”

大眾運輸今天除了高鐵宣布降價外，交通部也公布228連假的國道管制措施，免收費時段從深夜11點到清晨六點，費率採單一費率，無前廿公里免費優惠，通行費為平日75折。

Taiwan’s high-speed rail company announced Thursday that it will offer an 8 percent discount on all off-peak reserved seat fares beginning March 13. Now that may sound good, but it’s created a problem. The discount has made reserved seat fares cheaper than the price of non-reserved seats during off-peak hours, upsetting people who had already bought what they thought were cheaper tickets. 

Many high-speed rail riders buy non-reserved seat tickets to save money. But the 8 percent discount for reserved seats during off-peak hours may change the equation because some reserved seat fares will end up cheaper than non-reserved seat prices.

A one-way off-peak ticket between Taipei and Kaohsiung will now cost NT$1,495, cheaper than the NT$1,580 charged for non-reserved seats. Those who have already bought non-reserved seat tickets won’t be happy.

Wang Ping-yu
Taiwan High Speed Rail 
During those hours in which the 8 percent discount is applicable, (non-reserved seat) ticket holders can go to a station and (change to a reserved seat). There will be no processing fee.

The Transportation Ministry on Thursday also offered a discount to travelers. During the long weekend holiday starting Feb. 28, tolls on Taiwan’s highways will be free from 11pm to 6am. During other hours, motorists will be given a 25 percent discount off the normal tolls but the first 20 kilometers traveled will not be free.

全台目前有九家公股銀行，市佔率54%，但金管會主委曾銘宗認為公股銀行跟國際銀行相比，規模還太小，應該進行整併，他今天還拿打籃球為例，說唯有透過併購，才有機會打入亞洲盃！

金管會主委曾銘宗拋出議題，首度表態支持，公股銀行併購。

[[金管會主委 曾銘宗]]
希望三到五年內，能夠推動一家到兩家，亞洲區域性的大型銀行，也希望公股銀行能進一步整併，因為我們規模真的太小。

曾銘宗說，國內39家銀行，只有七家資產市占率超過5%，銀行規模太小，唯有透過併購才有機會打進亞洲。

另外，對信用卡的循環利率過高，曾銘宗認為不合理。

[[金管會主委 曾銘宗]]
對全部發卡銀行做全面金檢，為期從下個月開始，大概兩到三個月會完成。

動輒18到20%的循環利率，養成不少卡債族，曾銘宗認為，銀行應該落實風險定價，將循環利率從上限20%下修到16%， 不過這項修正還需要經過立院修法，才有可能。

For the first time, the chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission publicly voiced support for consolidation of the public banking sector. Most analysts believe that mergers and acquisitions are needed to make Taiwan’s banking sector more competitive internationally. 

This is what FSC Chairman Tseng Ming-chung had to say about his outlook for the local banking industry.

Tseng Ming-chung
FSC Chairman
I hope that in the next three to five years, we can have one or two banks that serve as large regional banks in Asia. I also hope for further consolidation of the public banking sector because frankly our scale is too small.

According to Tseng, of the 39 banks in Taiwan, only seven have more than a 5 percent share of total assets in the banking system. Mergers and acquisitions are the easiest way for these smaller banks to achieve the size needed to compete across Asia.

Tseng also said that the interest charged on credit cards is too high.

Tseng Ming-chung
FSC Chairman
Starting from next month, we will conduct a thorough examination of all banks that issue credit cards. This will likely take two to three months to complete.

Rates of 20 percent or more contribute to credit card debt that some cardholders find difficult to repay. Tseng believes that through better risk pricing, the banks can lower rates to no more than 16 percent. For Tseng’s recommendations to have teeth, however, lawmakers would have to amend regulations.

陸委會主委王郁琦今天與上海社科院學者座談，沒想到社科院副院長，以台灣地區大陸委員會主委介紹王郁琦，官職被矮化，王郁琦幫忙緩頰說，學者一時改不過來。

包括上海社科院院長王戰在內，總共十四名上海兩岸國際學者專家，首次跟陸委會主委王郁琦坐下來，交換意見，雙方都期待能更理解對方立場。

但沒想到，主持人一開場，卻是這麼稱呼王郁琦。

[[中國上海社科院副院長 黃仁偉]]
“大陸國台辦張志軍主任，和台灣地區陸委會王郁琦主委，舉行了第一次的官方正式的對話”

面對正式官方完整稱呼，對岸說不出口，王郁琦幫上海學者緩頰。

[[陸委會主委 王郁琦 ]]
“其實我們在裡面都是講陸委會主委，我覺得大陸這邊有些時候，一下子改不過來，也是可以理解，循序漸進”

針對王郁琦前一天在南京中山陵談中華民國，被質疑國號，走不出國民政府的舊首都南京。王郁琦表示，他是在適當的場合，講適當的話。

The head of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council Wang Yu-chi was in Shanghai Thursday to meet with scholars from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. He was described as a head of an agency in the “Taiwan area,” a term belittling Taiwan, but Wang shrugged off the slight. 

Fourteen cross-strait affairs scholars, including Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences president Wang Zhan, were on hand to exchange views with Wang Yu-chi. 

But no sooner did the meeting start than the host described Wang this way.

Huang Renwei
SASS Vice President
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office director Zhang Zhijun and Taiwan area Mainland Affairs Council chairman Wang Yu-chi held the first official talks. 

The reference to Taiwan as the “Taiwan area” denigrated Wang’s official standing, but the MAC chief let the Shanghai scholar off the hook.

Wang Yu-chi
MAC Chairman
Actually, we used the term “Mainland Affairs Council chairman” in (the meeting). I think there are times when the mainland has trouble changing its ways on the spur of the moment. It’s understandable. Progress is being made gradually. 

Wang himself caused a stir on Wednesday when he used the term “Republic of China” at the Sun Yat-sen mausoleum in Nanjing. When asked if the name would be uttered outside the old ROC capital city, Wang said only that he would say the appropriate thing in the appropriate place.

金鶯隊春訓正式展開，陳偉殷也在今天到佛州春訓基地報到，陳偉殷表示，去年治好膝傷後，他的身體狀況相當良好，上場投熱身賽也沒有問題，對於日籍球星田中將大加盟洋基，兩人對決的想法，陳偉殷自評大聯盟經驗應該比田中好。

相隔了幾個月，和隊友們好久不見，陳偉殷朝氣勃勃，膝蓋手術恢復已經沒甚麼問題，練習進度很順利。

[[金鶯隊投手 陳偉殷]]
“我現在就是儘量的去把自己的感覺趕快抓回來，然後春訓開始的時候，盡量調整到可以比賽的狀況這樣子，在春訓之前也進了三次牛棚，所以我覺得到熱身賽是沒有什麼問題”

說到同在美聯東區的洋基，重金招攬了田中將大加盟，兩人最快四月相碰對決，殷仔自評雙方優劣。

[[金鶯隊投手 陳偉殷]]
“他是第一年，那我今年其實算第三年，我覺得就是這一方面，我應該會佔上風一點點，實力上面或許他會贏我很多 也有可能吧”

另外，前旅日好手陽耀勳將與海盜隊簽下月薪1.5萬美元的小聯盟合約，合約附帶邀請參加大聯盟春訓，只要升上大聯盟，將會有一百萬美元。

Spring training is underway for Orioles pitcher Chen Wei-yin. The Taiwanese lefty says he’s pleased with rehab progress following offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his right knee. 

After several months without seeing his teammates, Chen Wei-yin was happy to be back with the Orioles. Offseason knee surgery is behind him, and Chen is pleased with his training.

Chen Wei-yin
Orioles Pitcher
Right now I’m just doing everything I can to get my feel for the game back. The start of spring training is a time to begin making adjustments so I can get into game shape. Before spring training, I also had three bullpen sessions, so I don’t think the exhibition games will be a problem.

Joining Chen in the American League East is Masahiro Tanaka, the Japanese sensation who recently signed with the New York Yankees. As early as May the two could meet. Chen discussed how they match up.

Chen Wei-yin
Orioles Pitcher
He will be in his first year while I’m in my third year. For this reason, I think I’ll have the slight upper hand. Ability-wise perhaps he has me beat by a lot. This is possible.

In other news, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Taiwanese pitcher Yang Yao-hsun to a minor league contract worth US$15,000 a month. Yang previously pitched in Japan. The contract guarantees an invite to spring training, and if Yang is called up to the majors, his salary will increase to US$1 million.

今天西洋情人節，一早在台中追分火車站，就上演浪漫求婚記，現場感染了幸福氣氛。

也有民眾特地過來索取追分成功的紀念車票，郵局也順勢推情人節個人化郵票，彰化縣長卓伯源則是到車站，發玫瑰送幸福。

Love was in the air today at Jhuifen Train Station, Taichung, highlighted by a romantic proposal. Onlookers were filled with joy. 

Some people came to get a commemorative ticket between Jhuifen and Chenggong stations, words that in Chinese symbolize a successful marriage proposal. The post office offered customized Valentine’s Day stamps, and Changhua County Commissioner Cho Po-yuan was on hand to give away roses.