Charity workshops in Taichung lost a big chunk of their Mid-Autumn festival orders after a budget cut, but the city government has stepped in to buy the lot.

• Taiwan's legislature cut and froze NT$30 million from the Presidential Office's discretionary fund, so its planned Mid-Autumn cake orders from 37 sheltered workshops could not go ahead.
• Five Taichung groups were hit, losing about 1,578 gift boxes worth over NT$510,000 — after they had already bought ingredients expecting the order.
• Four city departments, covering social affairs, culture, labor and economic development, are buying all the cancelled boxes.
• The city says nothing else gets squeezed, since each department already has a budget set aside for buying from disability groups.
• Mayor Lu Shiu-yen's government is also promoting gift boxes from 13 more welfare groups, from tea and soap to pastries and nut tarts.

Outlook: The immediate hole is plugged before the festival, but the wider funding fight leaves other workshops around Taiwan still short of orders.