The China Post
Date: September 27, 2016
By: Yuan-Ming Chiao
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Dozens of civic group representatives and residents demonstrated outside the Legislative Yuan Monday, urging Penghu voters to vote down a referendum that would allow casinos to operate in the island county.
The protesters, among them Penghu community representatives, scholars, religious leaders and lawmakers, as well as parents and children, said that pro-gambling groups were inflating potential benefits to the islands’ economy.
Developers have claimed that casinos could generate NT$4 billion per year in revenue and have promised cash handouts of NT$80,000 per year to seniors and subsidies of NT$30,000 per year to students. They have also promised subsidies of NT$50,000 per year to parents of children between the ages of 1 and 6.
The demonstrators chanted, “No to casinos, save Taiwan; no to casinos, save Penghu.” They also performed a skit, in which actors portraying casino proponents attempted to confuse residents by using euphemisms like “internationalization,” “economic development” and “international tourism resorts” to mask the negative side effects of casino legalization. [FULL STORY]
