Publicity toilet paper set to wipe out theft in Taipei

Jun 13, 2007, 14:47 GMT

Taipei - Taipei Mayor Hau Long-pin has ordered all public toilets to supply toilet paper, and has found a novel way to prevent those spending a penny from stealing it.

Early this week Hau, in response to a Taipei resident's complaint that some public toilets did not have toilet paper, ordered all public toilets in Taipei to supply toilet paper.

His decision drew mixed reaction from the public. Most people welcomed it while others feared it would be too costly because the tight-fisted of Taipei might take the toilet rolls home.

In a bid to deter roll bandits, the toilet paper would be sponsored by adverstisers who will allow their names to be smeared for the public good.

In a radio interview on Wednesday, Hau said he would stand firm by his decision.

'We can print advertisements on the toilet paper, and the cash from advertisers should be enough to finance the project,' Hau said on Broadcasting Corp of China.

'As the toilet paper is printed with advertisement, it will discourage people from taking it home for their own use,' he added.

Hau did not say when Taipei would supply toilet paper in all public toilets. Currently some public toilets have toilet paper while other don't.

There are more than 10,000 public toilets in Taipei which are cleaned daily by cleaners hired by the Taipei City Government.