Cambodia rejects China Town plan<\/p>\n
PHNOM PENH (Reuter): Cambodia's government has rejected a
\nproposal to create a unique China Town, fearing massive
\nimmigration from Hong Kong, the Phnom Penh Post reported.<\/p>\n
The cabinet, at a meeting in July, finally shot down plans to
\nset up a city of 200,000 Chinese immigrants on a 20-sq km (7.70
\nsq mile) plot of land just outside the capital, the fortnightly
\nPost said in its latest edition.<\/p>\n
\"The scheme would have effectively created the fourth biggest
\ncity in Cambodia and some Cambodian official supporters say it
\nwas designed to replace Phnom Penh as the commercial capital,\"
\nthe paper said, while adding that the proposal was not yet dead.<\/p>\n
\"More subtle revised versions of the bold initiative may be
\nsubmitted for approval, which include promises of large scale
\ninvestment in return for rights of immigration of overseas
\nChinese.\"<\/p>\n
The Cambodia-China City Company, set up by an affiliate of the
\nChina Non-Ferrous Metal Company of Beijing -- managed by the son-
\nin-law of Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping -- proposed investing one
\nbillion dollars to develop the city in Kandal.<\/p>\n
In return, it wanted use of the land for 70 years, immigration
\nrights for 200,000 Chinese and for representatives of the Beijing
\ncompany to hold the political post of deputy governor of the
\ncity.<\/p>\n
The Post, quoting government sources and documents of the
\nCambodia-China City Company, said the idea had the backing of the
\nNational Investment Committee, the office of the Council of
\nMinisters and the governor of Kandal province.<\/p>\n
But the deputy head of the Cambodia Development Council, which
\noversees investment policy, warned the plan was \"not a mere
\nordinary investment problem but rather a national political issue
\nbecause it involves 200,000 immigrants\".<\/p>\n
Keat Chhon, who is also Minister of State for Reconstruction
\nand Development, said in a June 28 message to First Prime
\nMinister Prince Norodom Ranariddh \"it may become a foreign city
\nin the middle of Cambodia\", the Post reported.<\/p>\n
The Council of Ministers, headed by Ranariddh and co-premier
\nHun Sen, rejected the proposal.<\/p>\n
The Post quoted a government supporter of the project as
\nsaying the idea would not rehabilitate Phnom Penh but would
\n\"create a new Phnom Penh -- a new Hong Kong in Cambodia\".<\/p>\n
The Post said the project was aimed above all at luring Hong
\nKong Chinese fearful of their future after Hong Kong reverts to
\nChinese control from Britain in mid-1997.<\/p>\n
Ethnic Chinese already play a key role in the economy and
\nadvocates of the scheme felt it would help spur development
\nthroughout the poverty-stricken and war-devastated country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cambodia-rejects-china-town-plan-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}