51.   Chinese and Taiwanese officials reached broad agreement here Wednesday on establishing direct trade links across the Taiwan Strait, a mainland official said.

52.   Liu, who surrendered to mainland security officials, claimed that political suppression was the reason behind the hijacking, according to Far East President Lee Yun-ning.

53.   Mainland officials have repeatedly warned Taiwan against increasing its international profile, saying this is an attempt by the island to officially break away from the mainland.

54.   Mainland officials said Sunday the group would be turned back when they arrived.

55.   Mainland officials whose permits expire on that date, will not be granted extensions.

56.   Taiwanese minister Kuo Nan-hung left for Beijing to attend an APEC meeting Tuesday, but ruled out any private talks with mainland officials.

57.   The flag carrier of the Portuguese enclave of Macau said Monday it had appointed a mainland Chinese aviation official as acting chief executive to succeed a Singaporean.

58.   The infiltrators are often sent to Taiwan disguised as stowaways, temporary workers, overseas Chinese students or mainland government officials visiting the island, other bureau officials said.