Control Yuan President Wang Chien-shien yesterday called on residents of Penghu County to vote “No” if a referendum were held on whether to build a casino in the county, suggesting that money spent on gambling could be donated to charities instead.
“I expect residents of Penhgu County will be wise enough to reject a [casino] proposal … How great it is to make donations to charity. What kind of thing is gambling after all? Wouldn’t it frighten you if your son told you he was in a casino?” Wang said.
Wang made the remarks when asked to comment on the newly passed amendment to the Offshore Islands Development Act (離島建設條例), which allows the opening of casinos on the country’s islands if a casino plan is approved by local residents in a referendum.
He spoke at a ceremony marking his donation of NT$540,000 to 15 charities. He also encouraged Control Yuan staff to donate their NT$3,600 consumer vouchers.
“I read a story in the newspaper recently about a poor family. Several children shared a quilt, and the father froze to death. The NT$3,600 consumer voucher is enough to help a poor family eat for two weeks and would have been enough for the dead father to purchase several quilts,” he said.
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