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TAIWAN LOOKS FOR MORE CHINESE GAMBLING ACTION

New president favours licensing offshore island casino-resorts

The president-elect of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, who is due to take office as president on May 20, will likely boost gambling opportunities in the island nation by allowing local governments in the offshore islands to issue gaming licenses the Economic Daily News reports.

Subject to parliament passing the necessary amendments, his administration favours such a move and is ready to grant licensing authority to local governments in the islands, Ma said during a visit to Penghu in the Taiwan Strait. He added that Makung airport in the Penghu island chain will be among the first to be opened for direct flights with China.

The Penghu county government is encouraged to attract tourists from the economically booming southern China province of Fujian, with the first batch possibly to arrive in July.

A key campaign pledge of the incoming president is the launch of weekend charter flights between Taiwan and China, expanding from the current practice of offering such services only on major holidays.