At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Tawan the vice chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) outlined plans for seven infrastructure projects. One of these is the upgrading of infrastructure on the offshore islands and Premier Liu Chao-shihuan said the government should first push for the legalisation of casino gambling on offshore islands to allow for future construction of gambling facilities.

This is seen as a small step forwards on the road to building a casino industry in Tawan as Liu is the first Premier to openly call for the legalisation of casino gambling. President Ma Ying-jeou has shown his support for the casino plan already, saying before his inauguration on 20 May that once Penghu residents reach consensus on the casino issue, the central government will do everything to facilitate the development of casino projects to boost tourism to the outlying islands.

Taiwan must first pass a bill to legalise casino gambling before the CEPD can outline a casino plan. Then a gambling bill must be introduced to regulate the industry. The issue has long been a controversial one in Taiwan but the remote islands of Penghu need an economic boost and gaming tourism is seen by many as the way forward. (E-08.15.08)

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