Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAN 2020年1月 亞博匯 47 封面故事 8. KITAKYUSHU CITY (FUKUOKA PREFECTURE) City population: 960,000 Prefecture population: 5 million Kyushu island population: 13 million Suitors: Two operators known of including one from Hong Kong Seems unlikely given the Kyushu Governor’s Association agreement to focus on Nagasaki as the sole IR bid on Kyushu island • • • • • With the people by and large against the introduction of IRs, it has been politically unpopular for cities or prefectures to raise their hands. 由於民眾普遍反對引入IR，因此各想向IR 敞開大門的縣市在政治上頗有難處。 8. 北九州市 (福岡縣) 城市人口：96萬 縣府人口：500萬 九州島人口：1300萬 競標者：一間香港營運商及至少多一家潛在企業 競投可能性較低，因九州地方知事會達成協議，集中支持長 崎成為區內唯一參與綜合度假村競投的地方 • • • • • 《亞博匯》在11月曾經報道，長期據出任北九州市長的北橋 健治表示，收到來自「一間香港營運商」的綜合度假村項目方案， 市政府將盡可能「仔細考慮及研究」。該報道亦指除了該方案外， 北九州市政府至少接獲多一份相關提案。該市綜合度假村項目現 有兩個建議選址，最大可能是位於JR山陽新幹線小倉站北出口的 位置。雖然北橋健治就該事宜發表了正面評論，但他仍保持中立 態度，並且指出：「市場與各業界有不同意見，而我們對參與IR競 投仍保持中立態度，但對積極地提出方案的營運商，我們將仔細 聆聽其意見。」 另一個需考慮的因素是，九州地方知事會已達成協議，集中 支持長崎成為區內唯一參與綜合度假村競投的地方。九州地方知 事會涵蓋九州內的七個縣政府，包括北九州市所屬的福岡縣。 In November, IAG reported that long-time Kitakyushu Mayor Kenji Kitahashi had received an IR proposal from “a Hong Kong operator,” and he intended to “properly consider and study” it as much as possible. IAG understands at least one more proposal has been received by Kitakyushu City. Two sites have been proposed, the most likely of which is the JR Sanyo Shinkansen Kokura Station North Exit. Despite his positive comments, Mayor Kitahashi officially maintains a neutral stance, stating, “Citizens and industries have differing opinions. Our neutral position on an IR bid hasn’t changed, but we will listen carefully to operators who are excited to make proposals.” Another factor to consider is the Kyushu Governor’s Association agreement to focus on Nagasaki as the sole IR bid on Kyushu. The Governor’s Association encompasses all seven prefectures on the main island of Kyushu, including the prefecture of Fukuoka, which is home to the city of Kitakyushu.