Asked whether the government is likely to offer food coupons or tax rebates to help disadvantaged households tide over inflationary pressure, Chu said no concrete plans are available at the moment.

As to whether the government will review the existing “poverty line” criteria, Chu said the Ministry of the Interior will study feasible measures, including the feasibility of identifying “near poor” families in terms of tax data.

“The Cabinet will unveil complete economy stimulus measures and strategies to help poor families in the shortest possible period of time,” Chu added.

The officials agreed that the current problems faced by Taiwan were mostly induced by problems abroad, but the administration should maintain the free market policy that will interact closely with the world communities.

Liu called the emergency meeting after the local bourse plummeted again yesterday despite a series of encouraging developments, including the imminent launch of direct weekend charter flights with China and the incoming Chinese tourists.

Taiwan’s benchmark share price index fell 263.04 points, or 3.37 percent, following a plunge of 358.41, 3.03 percent to close at 11,453.42 by Dow Jones industrial average in New York on Thursday.

Officials attending the impromptu gathering included Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming, Minister of Finance Li Sush-der, Central Bank of China Governor Perng Fai-nan, Minister of the Interior Liao Liou-yi, Council for Economic Planning and Development Chairman Chen Tain-jy and ministers without portfolio Tsai Hsung-hsiung and Chu Yun-peng, according to government spokeswoman Vanessa Y.P. Shih.

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