The Legislative Yuan will vote on an amendment to the Offshore Islands Development Act (離島建設條例) that seeks to legitimize the operation of casinos on the nation’s outlying islands during tomorrow’s plenary session, Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) said yesterday.
During a meeting with Penghu County Commissioner Wang Chien-fa (王乾發) in the legislature, the speaker said lawmakers across party lines had agreed to discuss the bill as “the timing seemed ripe.”
Wang did not elaborate on his remarks, but a consensus among legislators could be seen as a major breakthrough for the long-stalled issue.
For years, representatives of islands such as Penghu have been fighting for the opportunity to house casinos, arguing that it will bring much-needed jobs and boost local economies.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) also proposed to include a special “casino article” in the Offshore Islands Development Act when he was running for president.
Gambling is illegal in Taiwan.
The Democratic Progressive Party caucus said that the government should propose a set of measures to improve tourism on the islands while the government considers legalizing casinos.
During a report to the president on Dec. 26 last year, the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) gave its blessing to the development of a gambling industry on the islands to boost tourism and economic growth.
CEPD Vice Chairman Huang Wan-shiang (黃萬翔) said governments of the islands still needed to win the support of more than half of their residents before the governments could begin soliciting potential casino investors.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS