Taiwan authorities say they are considering fining Sally Wu, a well-known journalist with Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, and three Taiwan businesspeople after they were elected to government advisory bodies on the mainland.

Sally Wu is a member of Guangdong Province's political consultative conference, while three Taiwan businesspeople were elected to a municipal advisory body in the province's Dongguan City.

Taiwan's "mainland affairs council" said the four could be fined between 100,000 to 500,000 New Taiwan dollars if it is confirmed they still hold official residency status on the island.

If so the "council" said the four violated "cross-Straits regulations" that restrict Taiwan residents from holding official posts on the mainland.

The four people may even face additional fines, it said.

Sally Wu said she was elected as a Hong Kong resident to the Guangdong conference and that she has lived and worked in Hong Kong for 14 years.

Chen Shaoji, chairman of Guangdong political consultative conference, said Sally Wu as a Hong Kong resident was eligible for the election.

Yang Yi, spokesman with Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said earlier, "We support the participation of Taiwan compatriots in political affairs."

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)