Presidential Office to reopen holiday office tours starting Sept. 20

Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) Taiwan's Presidential Office will resume its monthly holiday tours on Sept. 20 after a seven-month pause caused by budget cuts, the office said Saturday.

The tours were suspended Feb. 15 after the central government reduced the office's annual operating budget by 13 percent in January and froze NT$214.12 million (US$6.94 million), or 70 percent.

The Legislative Yuan approved the release of the frozen funds on May 21.

The first event will coincide with the National Day for Cultural Heritage and feature two special programs -- a movie screening and a seminar on Taiwanese manga -- in addition to nine permanent exhibitions on the first floor. Reservations will be available online from 10 a.m. Sept. 13 to noon Sept. 18.

Tours will also be held on Oct. 18, Nov. 1 and Dec. 6. Open areas include the main entrance, entrance hall, reception hall, south and north courtyards, exhibit areas and selected corridors, the office said.

Visitors should enter through a checkpoint near the Baoqing-Bo'ai Road intersection and pass a security inspection. Recording devices and large backpacks are banned, while cameras and smartphones are allowed but must not be used to record or disturb others.