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Penghu residents unsure on casinos

By Jou Ying-cheng
STAFF REPORTER
Tuesday, Mar 20, 2001, Page 2

Croupiers wait at a gaming table at a casino in Macau last week. Stanley Ho, who holds the enclave's monopoly gaming franchise, said he would be interested in investing in Taiwan should the government decide to open up casino businesses on Penghu or elsewhere. PHOTO: REUTERS

If the possibility of opening up Penghu for gambling was just a simple yes or no question, the answer would probably be yes. But it's not.

Opening up this archipelagic county off Taiwan's western shore to dice, cards and one armed bandits is a lot more complex than just changing a few laws.

If Mr Wang (王), a young family man who runs a travel shop in the archipelago's capital city of Makung (馬公) were asked whether he wanted gambling his reply would be a resolute "Yes!"

"It would bring a lot more tourists here and promote our local economy," he said during a lunch break after helping a group of tourists stock up on cartons of snacks.

Wang runs a shop on Makung's busiest street, Chungcheng Road (中正路), specializing in a wide-range of tourist-related businesses, from renting motorcycles and cars and selling local products to organizing ocean recreation trips like diving and boating cruises.

But when asked to comment about the possibility of a proposed large-scale resort complex being built some 20-minutes away from Makung, Wang's enthusiasm began to wane.

The quiet main street of Makung, the main town of Penghu. PHOTO: JOU YING-CHENG, TAIPEI TIMES

"Will they take away every business opportunity, both big and small? If so, that's not good," he said.

The introduction of casinos to special areas, especially Taiwan's offshore islands, has become a matter of feverish public debate.

The interest in the idea was ratcheted up after Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅) revealed to lawmakers on March 7 that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) supported the idea. Chen's denial the following day that he had yet to decide on the issue has failed to quell the uproar.

Economic Interests

While the president and Cabinet's response to Chang's apparent slip of the tongue has been vague, most politicians and important public figures on Penghu support the idea of setting up casinos on the island. Both of the county's two legislators, and 18 out of 19 county councilors -- including the speaker and vice speaker -- all support the plan.

"The major reason casinos were proposed is due to the exodus of the island's population," said County Council Vice Speaker Yen Chung-ching (顏重慶).

According to the county's latest statistics, the population of the 64-isle, 126.86km2 county has been falling almost continuously during the past decade, dropping from 95,932 in late 1990 to 89,013 at the end of 1999. The report states that the exodus of people constitutes the primary factor for the decrease in the population.

An even sharper drop during the same period was of the number of people in the fishery industry -- traditionally the main industry for the islands' inhabitants, from 24,630 to 20,279.

"Young people have to go to Taiwan [proper] because they can't find jobs here," he said.

People believe that the construction of the casinos would be a boost to the local economy and employment.

Advocates of casinos are quick to stress that the debate is about more than just gambling.

"Like Las Vegas, there have to be hotels, shopping malls, conference halls, performance halls, sea recreation facilities, restaurants, golf courses and so on, and gambling facilities are just a small part of the resort," Council Speaker Su Kun-hsiung (蘇崑雄) said.

"We are not changing Penghu into a big gambling place, the opponents must understand this," he said, "however, the casinos are the heart of the whole development plan. Without them, Penghu can't attract people to come and enjoy the islands' beauty."

When more people come, a wide range of tourism-related businesses would be promoted, he noted.

"Some worry that casinos would result in heightened social problems. We hope the idea of spending more money on social services will convince them to accept casinos," Su said.

Are Casinos an absolute necessity?

Penghu is proud of its varied coastal scenery and historical relics, and it is without dispute that the county must develop tourism to survive. However, it is also a bitter reality that for fully six months of the year, the islands in the middle of the Taiwan Straight are subject to very strong winds, which deter tourists from visiting.

The weather is frequently cited as a major reason for building the casinos.

Can Penghu's people do without casinos?

Lin Chang-hsing (林長興), a high school teacher who has been at the center of a series of environmental protection and anti-casino campaigns, says that Penghu can.

"Penghu did not develop well in the past because the government was not earnest in pursuit of the area's economic growth," Lin said.

The local government has been spending funds appropriated by the central government on building unnecessary harbors and breakwaters, he said.

"Many politicians have been interested in making profits out of multiple constructions without concern for making better use of Penghu's natural and cultural virtues. And now they say only casinos can save Penghu," Lin said.

He also criticized the many politicians who advocate casinos because he says they have purchased land and are only interested in their own financial gain.

In Lin's mind, the most crucial thing at the moment is the preservation of the ecosystem and establishment of preservation areas. The green turtle preservation area on Wangan Island (望安) is a successful example of developing ecological tourism.

He reluctantly agrees that the economic benefits the casinos could bring to Penghu would be much more substantial than ecological tourism. Lin says, however, he doesn't trust the government to properly regulate casinos.

A souvenir shop owner nicknamed Ah Fu (阿福), who used to be a tour guide within Southeast Asia, agreed that casinos are not necessary because "much of the natural resources of Penghu have not been made proper use of."

"Many busy tourist resorts in Southeast Asia do not have casinos but are still popular," he said.

Citing the successful development of the tourism industry in Ilan County (宜蘭), Ah Fu said that the attractions in the northeastern county are not that amazing, but have gained popularity due to a successful advertising campaign.

He said he could agree to the introduction of casinos to Penghu, but with one caveat.

"That is: only Penghu is granted the special permission to have casinos."

"If other counties on Taiwan established casinos then tourists would remain unwilling to come to Penghu, and the introduction of casinos to Penghu would end in failure," Ah Fu said.

Crime Concern

One of the biggest concerns for local residents is the potential for gambling-related crime. Proponents of casinos, however, do not believe crime is a legitimate concern.

"With casinos, the worse thing that could happen is that you run out of cash. They don't lend you money. How could this kind of gaming lead to poverty, ruin and an increase in crime?" Su, the council speaker, said in an effort to refute the concern.

Another popular theory is that because Penghu is relatively isolated geographically it will be difficult for criminals to get away.

But one Penghu resident refuted that theory.

"There are long coastlines and many harbors. How can anyone believe it is difficult to escape?"

It is a fact, however, that many here are prepared to accept some increase in social disorder for the economic development gambling would bring.

"The point is -- do we want development or not? Prosperity will bring a certain level of disorder. Not only casinos do so. But we have to find ways to prevent and control it," Hung Tzu-liang (洪自良), a builder, said.

He complained that the opponents of casinos are predominantly teachers and public servants who live a stable life -- on regular and actually very good pay -- and do not really want the status quo to change.

Perhaps, with such a division within the island's population, the suggestion of an elderly women who runs a travel agent in Makung would provide a solution.

"It would be best to allow only non-local tourists to gamble. With Penghu residents prohibited, social and family problems could be kept to a minimum."
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