KINMEN PETITIONS FOR GAMBLING LEGALIZATION REFERENDUM|金門拚觀光 縣議員提博弈公投案 正反意見兩極

Kinmen County Councillor Tsai Chun-sheng has submitted over 6,000 signatures petitioning for a referendum on legalizing gambling on the island. The Kinmen County Election Commission said a review of the signatures will be completed before the end of May, and that the referendum will be held only after the results are announced. Tsai, who started the petition, said that he hoped the gambling industry could drive the development of tourism in Kinmen. However, opponents of gambling said that the Chinese government has said it will stop Chinese tourists from traveling to Kinmen if gambling becomes legal, so gambling is actually harmful to tourism. Kinmen County Councillor Tsai Chun-sheng has submitted 6,207 signatures endorsing his referendum proposal to the Kinmen County Election Commission on Apr. 3, far exceeding the number necessary. The Election Commission will complete a review of the signatures by the end of May. If there are enough valid signatures, the referendum must be held within half a year. ==LU CHENG-FA Section 1 Chief, Kinmen County Election Commission== By the end of May, the entire (review) process should be completed. The results of the review will be sent to us, and we will release them within 10 days. (If the proposal passes) the referendum must be held in half a year. Tsai said that he wanted the referendum not for the gambling, but for the jobs that gambling will create by attracting tourism. ==TSAI CHUN-SHENG Kinmen County Councillor== Gambling is only 5% of the tourism industry. It's not that gambling alone would do it, that's impossible. But if we want to develop tourism, we need something that attracts people, so that tourists will come. However, local groups opposed to gambling said that China has said it will cut off Chinese travel to Kinmen if gambling is legalized there, so gambling will actually harm Kinmen's economy. ==YANG TSAI-PING Founder, Kinmen Anti-Casino League== Kinmen's tourism is chiefly with Chinese tourists. The Chinese government has openly opposed casinos in Kinmen. So if Kinmen allows casinos and China stops allowing tourists here, how could Kinmen develop tourism? The two sides have different views about what will be better for tourism. Kinmen County has also recently suggested that the central government cut the visa fee for Chinese visitors to the island by NT$200 to encourage more travelers, reflecting the island's dedication to tourism development. TRANSLATED BY：JOHN CHEN 金門縣議員蔡春生3日向金門縣選委會遞交6千多份博弈公投連署書，完成第一階段的提案連署門檻.選委會表示將在五月底前公告公投連署審查結果，才能確定是否要舉行金門博奕公投。發起連署的蔡春生表示，希望透過博弈產業帶動金門觀光發展。不過反對方認為中國官方曾表態，如果金門開放博弈將停止中國觀光客到金門旅遊，反而造成傷害。 金門縣議員蔡春生4月3日向金門縣選委會遞交6207份公投連署書，跨過5178人的公投提案門檻，五月底前金門縣選委會將公告審查結果，如果通過審查，金門依法要在公告後半年內舉行博弈公投。 == 金門縣選委會第一組組長 呂成發== 應該是五月底之前 這整個(公投連署審查)流程 應該是可以跑光(完) 就審查完的結果以後 它送到我們這邊 我們十天之內必須要公告 （若通過)半年之內必須要辦公投 蔡春生表示提出公投的最主要目的不在博弈，而是希望透過博弈帶動觀光，創造就業機會拚經濟。 ==金門縣議員蔡春生== 博弈才佔觀光產業的百分之五 並不是說全部都是博弈 不可能的 那我們要發展觀光 要有吸引人潮的地方嘛 人家遊客才會來嘛 不過金門在地反對博弈的團體認為，中國曾表示如果金門開放博弈，將不讓中國觀光客前往金門旅遊，反而對金門的觀光與經濟造成傷害。 ==金門反賭場聯盟發起人 楊再平== 金門觀光旅遊 主要是在做小三通旅遊 那大陸當局已經公開 反對金門設置賭場 你金門如果設賭場 大陸不放遊客過來 你金門怎麼發展觀光 贊成與反對雙方都以發展觀光為理由提出不同看法，而最近金門縣政府也向中央建議，希望小三通落地簽規費能減少200元，希望鼓勵中國觀光客到金門旅遊，這都反映出金門人全力發展觀光的期待。 記者 張志雄 彭耀祖 台北報導