Tropical island rewarded as lottery prize.

Doodle · March 05, 2009, 04:37:28 PM

QuoteTAIPEI (Reuters) - A 4-year-old boy has won the use of an uninhabited tropical island, with white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters, in a Taiwan lottery aimed at boosting spending during an economic downturn.

Officials said Yeh Chien-wei, who won the prize at Thursday's draw, will get exclusive rights to the tiny plot in the Taiwan Strait from May through September.

Penghu County, an offshore archipelago, will provide food, drinks, water and electricity to the boy. He has been quoted in local media saying he wants to play in the sea.

"Penghu has a lot of islands, and that one has water and electricity, so someone can really enjoy it," said county economic promotion official Lu Yan-chang, explaining why use of the island, which also has a cabin, was offered as a prize.

Counties elsewhere in Taiwan have offered cars, houses and other prizes to encourage locals to spend consumer vouchers worth T$3,600 ($103) that the government gave to every citizen in January to encourage spending to help boost the sagging economy.

Penghu, which comprises 64 islands, is known for its beautiful beaches and water sports.

According to the terms of the prize, the boy and up to seven family members can visit the island five times, for trips that last a maximum of three days.

(Reporting by Ralph Jennings, editing by Miral Fahmy)

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Even though there's a limit, that is pretty awesome.
Too bad our lottery doesn't offer prizes like that. But I never win those things, anyway. :(

Nayrman · March 05, 2009, 04:39:15 PM

I wanna win a tropical island ;_;

Tupin · March 05, 2009, 05:21:22 PM

I'd buy an island if I won the lottery...

Wait, he's four years old an he won the lottery? They REALLY must be desperate for money.

jnfs2014 · March 05, 2009, 05:45:18 PM

Kid: Hey Dad! I won an island!!!!
Dad: Why that's amazing!!! How'd you win it!?!?
Kid: I won it at the lottery!!!
Dad: What!?!? Don't do that again or I'll have to take your island away!

Linkman · March 05, 2009, 06:00:38 PM

Quote from: JNFS2014 on March 05, 2009, 05:45:18 PM
Kid: Hey Dad! I won an island!!!!
Dad: Why that's amazing!!! How'd you win it!?!?
Kid: I won it at the lottery!!!
Dad: What!?!? Don't do that again or I'll have to take your island away!

xD so randum1!!1

Cecil_and_Kain · March 05, 2009, 06:05:15 PM

Buh... wah.. I... want... that island... now...

Mutilator7 · March 06, 2009, 01:49:09 PM

I would make my own constitutional monarchy on my island.

Macawmoses · March 06, 2009, 01:58:06 PM

You couldn't...it's still theirs.

Communist Daughter · March 06, 2009, 02:03:49 PM

I would have rather accepted a monetary reward, but I suppose you could just take people there for a nominal fee.

Shujinco2 · March 06, 2009, 02:28:46 PM

Quote from: Blick Winkel on March 06, 2009, 02:03:49 PM
I would have rather accepted a monetary reward, but I suppose you could just take people there for a nominal fee.

Yeah, a MILLION dollars per visit. >:D

DededeCloneChris · March 06, 2009, 03:06:28 PM

That kid surely will make a REAL Total Drama Island. :D