Taiwan to Ask Hotels, Saunas to Provide Condoms to Prevent AIDS

In an effort to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, Taiwan is asking that hotels and saunas provide guests with condoms, a health official said today. "Under the revised AIDS Prevention Bill, hotels and saunas must provide condoms to guests, but they can decide whether to charge the guests for the condoms or not," said Tsai Shu-fen of Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control. Those businesses that refuse to provide condoms face a maximum 30,000 Taiwan dollars (US$900) fine. Under the bill, prostitutes and their clients arrested must attend a lecture on AIDS prevention. The new measure also stipulates that citizens from China, Hong Kong and Macau must submit certificates proving they are HIV-negative when they apply for long-term residence in Taiwan.

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