The Presidential Office yesterday denied that President Chen Shui-bian (
The statement came amid heated dispute over the casino issue after Minister of the Interior Chang Po-ya (張博雅) said on Wednesday at the legislature that Chen had expressed support for such a proposal during a meeting with the president of the Las Vegas-based company The Venetian Resort. The Venetian is wholly owned by Las Vegas Sands Inc.
"The president did not make any promise that casinos are to be set up in Penghu," said Kuo Yao-chi (
Kuo made the statement after reading out during an afternoon press conference what she said a was "a complete transcript" of the discussion on Oct. 26 between Chen and the president of The Venetian Resort, Selbon Andelson.
She said that Chen agreed to develop the international tourism industry, not casinos.
"Taiwan is an island country and should develop an international maritime tourism industry. I hope that with your investment Taiwan's tourism industry will be connected with and keep up with that of the world," Chen was reported to have said.
During the discussion, Chen several times praised the prosperity of Las Vegas and expressed appreciation for Andelson's plan to invest in tourism in Penghu, but he said, "as you [Andelson] said, now Las Vegas does not make profits only from the gambling industry but also from the sightseeing, shopping, restaurant and even golf industries."
According to the transcript, Chen also told Andelson that on Oct. 3 the Executive Yuan had held a cross-ministry meeting discussing issues related to the development of the outlying islands, and that an initial plan was discussed to develop the gambling industry on outlying islands by granting them special permission.
Citing the transcript, Kuo said that Chen held no firm position on the issue and believed it should be left for further discussion among the public and the Executive Yuan, and ultimately to a resolution of the legislature.
Questioned by reporters, however, Kuo declined to comment as to whether the interior minister, who was also present at Chen and Andelson's meeting, had misunderstood Chen's comments.
Earlier in the morning when pursued by the media, Minister Chang's tone had apparently changed. She said that a Las Vegas-style combination of casinos and other tourist industries "could be considered." The day before she had said she "entirely agreed with" the casino proposal.
She stressed that the point was the development of tourism in Penghu as a whole, not casinos alone.
Legislators from different parties also expressed concern over the issue. The People First Party legislative caucus held a press conference to criticize the government. PFP spokeswoman Diane Lee (李慶安) said that the DPP used to oppose casinos but had now swiftly had altered its position.
The New Party's Hsieh Chi-ta (
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