Protesters halt China tourist island project
Released on 2011-10-24 15:40 | readings
新华社报道称，1月20日，由于数以千计的居名对海南省文昌市政府在一港口附近修建人工岛以发展旅游业的规划不满而发起抗议，导致该项目于上周暂时停工。有人认为对中国城市来说，兴建人工岛可以帮助不损害耕地的基础上帮助城市发展，而且这种项目世道政府保障。但是，人工岛计划可能造成开垦荒地的问题，如不常住房和拆除已有建筑物。
海南岛文昌市市政府为了支持其旅游业而决定兴建人工岛。当地居民担心该项目会给环境和渔场带来破坏。新华社报道说，项目从上周二开始动工，但由于愤怒的居民冲到现场，工程被迫中断。周三抗议活动规模扩大，数以千计的居民聚集在工地，砸毁政府车辆，并与建筑工人发生冲突。他们还封锁了一条道路，阻止卡车向工地运输建筑材料。居民担心人工岛的建立将意味着渔船的庇护空间会越来越少，尤其是在台风季节，新华社报道。
海南省海洋与渔业局负责人表示，20亿元（约合3.03亿美元）的计划将有助于减轻海岸侵蚀和有助于促进旅游业而发展当地经济。新华社说“开发商曾多次试图重新动工，但是所以尝试都被当地居民阻止。”当地城府官员也试图说服当地居民不要阻止建设工作，但是似乎毫无效果。目前他也不确定这项工程何时才能重新启动。
国务院月初发表了鼓励海南省在未来几年内简称国际旅游岛的提案，该项目是海南打造“东方夏威夷”计划的一部分。海南省计划到2020年，将该省打造为国际旅游胜地。路透社称，中国已经出现了越来越大的贫富差距，环境恶化，非法侵占土地和腐败所造成的公愤和抗议也屡见不鲜。
Some people believe that building artificial islands is a way for cities in China to expand without destroying farmland, which is protected by the central government. However, artificial islands plan may also cause land reclamation problems, such as compensating homeowners and demolishing existing buildings.
The government in Wenchang, on the resort island province of Hainan, wants to build an artificial island off a port for tourism purposes. Villagers fear it will damage the environment and fishing grounds, Xinhua news agency said. "The incident escalated on Wednesday when thousands of villagers gathered at the site and smashed government vehicles and clashed with construction workers. They also blocked a road to prevent trucks from delivering building materials to the site." Residents fear the artificial island will also mean less space in the port for ships seeking shelter, especially during the typhoon season, the official news agency added.
Lin Zhitie, head of the provincial marine and fishery bureau, said the 2 billion yuan ($303 million) scheme would help the local economy by easing coastal erosion and promoting tourism. "Though the developer tried several times to resume construction, villagers have stopped all attempts," Xinhua said. The government officer tried to talk villagers out of blocking construction work and he was unsure when construction could begin again."
The state council issued new plan in the beginning of this month to encourage Hainan developing to an international island resort in the coming years. The artificial island project is part of a plan to turn the "China's Hawaii," into an international tourist destination by 2020, the report added. According to Reuters, China has seen an upsurge in public anger and protests caused by a growing rich-poor gap, environmental degradation, illegal land seizures and corruption.
新华社报道称，1月20日，由于数以千计的居名对海南省文昌市政府在一港口附近修建人工岛以发展旅游业的规划不满而发起抗议，导致该项目于上周暂时停工。有人认为对中国城市来说，兴建人工岛可以帮助不损害耕地的基础上帮助城市发展，而且这种项目世道政府保障。但是，人工岛计划可能造成开垦荒地的问题，如不常住房和拆除已有建筑物。
海南岛文昌市市政府为了支持其旅游业而决定兴建人工岛。当地居民担心该项目会给环境和渔场带来破坏。新华社报道说，项目从上周二开始动工，但由于愤怒的居民冲到现场，工程被迫中断。周三抗议活动规模扩大，数以千计的居民聚集在工地，砸毁政府车辆，并与建筑工人发生冲突。他们还封锁了一条道路，阻止卡车向工地运输建筑材料。居民担心人工岛的建立将意味着渔船的庇护空间会越来越少，尤其是在台风季节，新华社报道。
海南省海洋与渔业局负责人表示，20亿元（约合3.03亿美元）的计划将有助于减轻海岸侵蚀和有助于促进旅游业而发展当地经济。新华社说“开发商曾多次试图重新动工，但是所以尝试都被当地居民阻止。”当地城府官员也试图说服当地居民不要阻止建设工作，但是似乎毫无效果。目前他也不确定这项工程何时才能重新启动。
国务院月初发表了鼓励海南省在未来几年内简称国际旅游岛的提案，该项目是海南打造“东方夏威夷”计划的一部分。海南省计划到2020年，将该省打造为国际旅游胜地。路透社称，中国已经出现了越来越大的贫富差距，环境恶化，非法侵占土地和腐败所造成的公愤和抗议也屡见不鲜。
Some people believe that building artificial islands is a way for cities in China to expand without destroying farmland, which is protected by the central government. However, artificial islands plan may also cause land reclamation problems, such as compensating homeowners and demolishing existing buildings.
The government in Wenchang, on the resort island province of Hainan, wants to build an artificial island off a port for tourism purposes. Villagers fear it will damage the environment and fishing grounds, Xinhua news agency said. "The incident escalated on Wednesday when thousands of villagers gathered at the site and smashed government vehicles and clashed with construction workers. They also blocked a road to prevent trucks from delivering building materials to the site." Residents fear the artificial island will also mean less space in the port for ships seeking shelter, especially during the typhoon season, the official news agency added.
Lin Zhitie, head of the provincial marine and fishery bureau, said the 2 billion yuan ($303 million) scheme would help the local economy by easing coastal erosion and promoting tourism. "Though the developer tried several times to resume construction, villagers have stopped all attempts," Xinhua said. The government officer tried to talk villagers out of blocking construction work and he was unsure when construction could begin again."
The state council issued new plan in the beginning of this month to encourage Hainan developing to an international island resort in the coming years. The artificial island project is part of a plan to turn the "China's Hawaii," into an international tourist destination by 2020, the report added. According to Reuters, China has seen an upsurge in public anger and protests caused by a growing rich-poor gap, environmental degradation, illegal land seizures and corruption.