CHIAYI (TVBS News) — Chiayi City Councillor Molly Yan on Thursday (May 23) criticized the city's stringent regulations on the establishment of a designated sex district, stating that the requirement for such areas to be more than 300 meters away from schools, kindergartens, and other sensitive sites has made it impossible to find a suitable location within the city.
Yan, who had proposed the establishment of a sex district last year, argued that the regulations were overly restrictive compared to international standards.
Yan's proposal, which received approval and support from several council members in December 2023, aimed at evaluating the feasibility of setting up a sex district in Chiayi City. Mayor Huang Min-hui emphasized the importance of public consultation and legal discussions regarding the proposal.
However, the Administration Division of the Chiayi City Police Bureau, following guidelines from the Ministry of Interior, stated that sex districts must be confined to commercial areas and maintain a proper distance from schools, kindergartens, temples, and churches.
Yan pointed out that the 300-meter distance requirement was based on concerns that such facilities might negatively impact real estate values. After mapping out the city's 47 schools, 74 kindergartens, 60 churches, and approximately 500 temples, it was found that no commercial area in Chiayi City met the criteria for establishing a sex district.
Yan argued that this restriction was more severe than in countries like the Netherlands and Germany, which do not specify how far sex districts must be from sensitive facilities. She questioned why sex districts in Taiwan were subject to such a restriction when similar industries, such as entertainment venues, do not have distance requirements.
The debate over establishing a sex district in Chiayi City highlights the challenges of balancing regulatory concerns with the realities of urban geography. Additionally, extremely stringent regulatory restrictions are required in sex districts to prevent human and drug trafficking, as well as the exploitation of sex workers. As discussions continue, the city faces navigating these complex issues.