Minister of the Interior Yu Cheng-hsien (
"I personally support legalizing gambling in Penghu," Yu said in answer to the question raised by independent Legislator Lin Pin-kuan (
Yu said that he believes the authorities have the ability to maintain Pengu's security if gambling legislation is passed.
The issue of whether to legalize gambling in Penghu to promote tourism in the offshore islands was raised in the legislature's Home and Nation Committee yesterday.
The debate over legalizing gambling in Penghu has been raging for more than five years.
The Cabinet has never been able to reach a consensus on the issue because of disagreements between the various ministries and agencies.
Supporters of legalized gambling say it would attract investment to the islands and create job opportunities for local residents.
Critics argue that gambling would not only damage the islands' security and environment, but also increase the cost of living there.
The Ministry of the Interior has completed an assessment of the effects of legalizing gambling in Penghu, in which most government departments -- especially the Ministry of Justice -- state their opposition to the idea, according to officials familiar with the assessment.
Yu admitted yesterday that many Cabinet agencies are opposed to the gambling proposal, but he said that he supported the establishment of casinos, based on his understanding of casino operations.
"A gambling casino at a holiday resort is just part of resort, no different than the Chinese or Italian restaurants belonging to it," Yu told reporters.
Yu said that he would try to push through the bill, although he didn't give any details.
According to the ministry's Scenic Area Administration, there are five holiday resorts being planned for Penghu.
The biggest will occupy more than 11 hectares, but only two of them, the Big Penghu International Holiday Resort in Paisha and the Jinsha Bay Holiday Resort in Lintou, will be targeted at families and international tourists with facilities such as a shopping malls, spas, nightclubs and casinos.
Yeh Chih-kuei (葉志魁), a professor of tourism studies at National Dong Hwa University, who has campaigned against legalizing gambling, emphasized that gambling won't help promote tourism in Penghu and would damage the offshore islands' natural resources.
"I have learned that most government departments have opposed the idea in every single survey in the past," Yeh said. The idea is only supported by those politicians and businessmen looking to take advantage of a rise in Penghu's land prices."
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