New Taipei's Proposal to Relax Claw Machine Shop Distance from Schools Rejected by Council

The New Taipei City Council held a general assembly session today. When the New Taipei City Government presented the draft amendment for the "New Taipei City Self-Service Selection Vending Business Management Autonomous Ordinance" during its first reading, it faced opposition from Kuomintang Councilor Chen I-chun, Democratic Progressive Party Councilor Huang Shu-chun, and independent Councilor Su Hung-chin.

According to the amendment, while current regulations require self-service vending shops to be located at least 100 meters away from all levels of schools, the distance could be relaxed to 50 meters if they are set up in night markets or within department stores, hypermarkets, or shopping centers with a floor area of 3,000 square meters or more.

Sheng Hsiao-jung, Director of the Economic Development Department, stated that the relaxed regulations come with caveats. They must be set up as stalls in night markets, or located on floors other than the 1st and 2nd floors in large retail stores, using less than 10% of the total floor area, and must not have outward-facing promotional advertising.

Councilor Chen I-chun noted that although the Economic Development Department had communicated with parent groups, most believed the current 100-meter rule should be maintained. She highlighted that many night markets open at 4 PM, making it difficult to regulate, and raised concerns that students lacking self-control might become addicted. Consequently, she advocated for rejecting the bill, which was seconded by other councilors present, leading Speaker Chiang Ken-huang to rule for the rejection of the amendment. (Editor: Li Shu-hua) 1150409