Taiwan Today

During a June 20 visit to the Penghu County, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said he views the outlying region’s proposed casino as playing a supplementary role in local tourism industry development. “I’m here to see how to develop Penghu tourism, not just to see how casinos will be built,” Liu said. The premier noted that a draft bill on gambling management and complementary measures drawn up by related government agencies will be ready by year end. Liu said that to better develop Magon City, the county capital, renovation and expansion of facilities such as the harbor and airport will be crucial. He requested that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications take the matter in hand. “Whatever the results of a referendum by Penghu residents on the casino, preparations aimed at developing the county’s tourism industry will not be in vain,” Liu said. “Penghu County has enormous potential in terms of tourism resources.” MOTC Minister Mao Chi-kuo said that a draft bill on gambling management will be sent to the Legislature for review by the end of the year, adding that hopefully, it will be passed in 2010. Regarding concerns such as social welfare costs, money laundering, the influence of organized crime, and minors who engage in gambling and drug taking, Mao said complementary measures aimed at tackling such issues will be proposed when the draft goes before the Legislature. Legislator Lin Ping-kuan of the opposition Non-partisan Solidarity Union said if the gaming tax rate is set at 20 percent, along with the NT$60 billion (US$1.813 billion) threshold for gambling investment, there is a strong likelihood that investors will shy away from Penghu’s gambling business. “The government should investigate how we can differentiate from Singapore and Macau’s gambling industry models.” In related news, as Liu was touring Penghu, the county government called on the central administration to implement a “mini-three-links” and landing visa initiative to attract mainland tourists to the islands. In response, Liu said the Mainland Affairs Council is reviewing the issue of granting landing visa to mainland tourists with related government agencies. “The landing visa issue needs to be confirmed through negotiations between Taipei and Beijing as it involves cross-strait affairs.” (This article first appeared in the "United Daily News" June 21, 2009)