Legislators yesterday gave a preliminary go-ahead to an amendment that would make it easier for businesses to buy property and build tourist resorts on offshore islands.
The revision to the Offshore Islands Development Act (離島建設條例) passed its first review by the Economic Committee amid controversy from opposition lawmakers and environmental groups who fear it could lead to rampant overdevelopment on some of Taiwan’s pristine coastlines.
Proposed by Non-Partisan Solidarity Union Legislator Lin Pin-kun (林炳坤), the amendment would loosen strict land use requirements put on large-scale developments. It would also increase the amount of floor space bonuses local governments can award to land developers.
The proposal would also give local governments the authority to make decisions on large-scale developments not exceeding 50 hectares, a move that environmentalists said could lead to environmental impact assessments being conducted by less thorough local environmental agencies.
Lin, who represents Penghu County, said the proposal was essential to keep foreign investment in the county’s tourism sector from drying up after residents in November last year rejected a plan that would have legalized gambling.
“After the referendum failed last year, foreign companies and investors have said they want to pull out their investments. We are thinking of ways to ensure they stay in Penghu and invest their money in Penghu’s tourist hotels,” Lin said.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) said the revisions would unfairly benefit large corporations and overshadow the interests of the residents of Penghu.
If the requirements for large developments were lowered, it would have an adverse effect on the island chain’s fragile ecosystem and privatize a number of the county’s scenic coastlines, she said.
Lin rebutted DPP criticism that his proposal was meant to help corporations build casinos in Penghu.
He told a press conference that his proposal would give investors incentives to invest in the hotel businesses on the island.
“The proposal has nothing to do with gambling,” he said.
At a press conference held with Tien yesterday morning, Robin Winkler (文魯彬), an environmentalist working with the Wild at Heart Legal Defense Association, said only politicians and big business would benefit from the revisions.
Lin said opposition lawmakers misread his intentions and denied that the revisions were in connection with any future plans to hold another casino referendum.
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