TAIPEI: A US investment consulting firm sent a representative to the island county of Kinmen yesterday. John Turner will assess prospects for development of Kinmen as a casino and tourist destination.

Turner, a representative of Pro Forma Advisors, traveled to Kinmen on a fact-finding trip arranged by the American Institute in Taiwan.

Turner said his visit was aimed at getting a better understanding of Kinmen's infrastructure development and its potential for future development.

He will also visit Penghu Island, off Taiwan's southwestern county of Chiayi, for the same purpose.

The way was opened for casinos on Kinmen after the Legislative Yuan passed a law in January legalizing gambling on Taiwan's many islands. The law stipulated that casinos must be set up in conjunction with tourist hotels.

The law requires, however, that local residents approve the concept in public referendum before gaming projects can be launched.

Any proposed casino plan will require approval of a simple majority of voters, under the law.

Deputy Kinmen County Magistrate Yang Chung-chuan spelled out the details of Kinmen's casino-related law for Turner. The magistrate added, however, the law needed to be fleshed out further before it could be put to a referendum.

Yang estimated that supporters and opponents of a casino on Kinmen were evenly distributed.

Yang said he hopes that casino development will not compromise ferry services and tourism exchanges between Kinmen and Xiamen - a major port city in Fujian province.

He added that regardless of the fate of potential casino projects, Kinmen's infrastructure would be strengthened, including expansion of Shuitou Port, improving Shangyi Airport to become an international gateway, and upgrading National Kinmen College of Technology into a university.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 03/12/2009 page1)