Township mulling a betel-nut district

As the Taoyuan County Govern-ment prepared to enforce its "three nos" policy with effect from today, prohibiting "betel-nut beauties" from exposing their breasts, bellies and buttocks, a township in southern Taiwan was planning to create a designated special district for betel-nut girls.

The district would seek to regulate, tax and organize the trade in a manner designed not to cause traffic hold-ups.

The laws on exposing parts of the body, however, would be no more liberal than those which take effect in Taoyuan today.

Shen Tung-lai, secretary general of Jenwu Township, Kaohsiung County, yesterday told the Taipei Times it plans to establish its special district along the township's Chengkuwan Road if its proposal is authorized by the county government.

The plan would involve betel-nut traders in the township being confined exclusively to the sides of the 5.7km-road, the town's main venue for betel-nut traders, which runs parallel to the Southern Second Freeway.

Traders will have to pay taxes to the township office, which would publicize the venue as a means of promoting tourism to the town, even holding an annual "Miss Betel Nut Beauty of Jenwu" contest to attract visitors.

Shen said that betel-nut stands will only be allowed to be positioned in a manner authorized by the township office.

Any stand set up without authorization will be removed and its owner fined. Currently, as in many suburban areas across the country, betel-nut stands are often located illegally on the road itself, obstructing traffic.

"Jenwu is famous for its many betel-nut beauties. In addition, these betel-nut stands often become traffic problems because these stands often block the roads which endangers motorists and riders," said Shen Tung-lai (沈同來), the secretary-general of the township office.

"If there's a special district for these betel-nut stands and beauties, it will become easier for us to manage them and these betel-nut stands won't create traffic problems anymore."

Any punters expecting the special district to institute a more liberal regime on betel nut girls' dress codes, however, are likely to be disappointed.

"Basically, as long as they don't expose their breasts or private parts, we will have no problem with how they dress," he said.

Betel-nut stand owner Lin Jung-nan (林榮楠), who trades in downtown Jenwu, was not optimistic about the plan, fearing a loss of business if the district is established.

"Location is one of the main concerns for us when we choose where to open our betel-nut stands," Lin said.

"Is it easy for customers to park? Is it a noteworthy place? Does it have good fengshui? It seems to me that stand owners won't have the right to decide once we're asked to move to the district."

Shen acknowledged that the township has no timetable for implementation of the plan, which requires the county government's approval.

The plan requires the approval of the Kaohsiung County Commissioner and then of the county council.

Contacted by the Taipei Times yesterday, Kaohsiung County Commissioner Yang Chiu-hsing (楊秋興) said that he hasn't heard anything about the "betel-nut beauty district" proposal.