The Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) caucus whip said yesterday that it hopes to delay cross-party consultations on a proposed amendment to a law to legalize the establishment of casinos on outlying islands.
William Lai's (賴清德) remarks came after Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) said during a visit to Kinmen on Thursday that if the local governments and councils of the outlying islands approve the establishment of tourism casinos on the islands, the central government will help them realize their wishes, expressing the hope that the DPP legislative caucus will "give the party's legislators the freedom" to vote on the proposed amendment.
The legislature is scheduled to hold cross-party consultations on the proposed amendment tomorrow, but the DPP hopes to delay them.
Lai said that three previous premiers, including Tang Fei (唐飛), Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) and Yu Shyi-kun were all opposed to the opening of tourism casinos on the outlying islands, and that the DPP caucus has also twice vetoed the idea. If the premier has a different opinion, the DPP caucus will discuss the issue once again on May 27, Lai said.
He said that using casinos to attract tourists will only benefit the conglomerates and landowners, and not the residents of the outlying islands. He added that the negative social ills that usually accompany the establishment of casinos, such as drug abuse, crime and prostitution, will be shouldered by the residents on the islands and around the nation.
Meanwhile, two major opposition parties said that they have no set opinions on the opening of casinos on the outlying islands.
KMT caucus whip Chen Chieh (陳杰) said that if residents of the outlying island of Penghu believe that there is such a need for the establishment of casinos, then the party will respect their wishes.
He noted that Penghu residents have been the most active in pushing for the opening of casinos in the belief that they will help the island's development since it is not fit for other industries.
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