VietNamNet Bridge – The Quang Ninh provincial authorities have affirmed
that if the casino project is licensed, it would attract a lot of investors.
The northern province of Quang Ninh has stirred up the public with the
proposal to allow the province to apply a special mechanism in Van Don
District, and license a resort complex project which comprises a “gaming
center,” or in other words, a casino.
The project is one of the 18 projects the local authorities have open
to the public to call for investment. This is considered one of the most
important projects in the province which is expected to cover an area of 2000
hectares in Van Don District.
Dang Huy Hau, Deputy Chair of the Quang Ninh provincial people’s
committee, said that international investors and tourism programmers believe
that the natural conditions in Van Don Island are really very favorable to turn
into a key tourism site. However, they also said that it would be difficult to
develop a tourism center here without a big scale gaming center.
Hau said in a recent interview given to Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam that
the local authorities had to think twice before submitting the project,
estimated to cost 4-5 billion dollars, to the government.
The relevant ministries and branches are discussing about the project
and show their opinions to the government the Communist Party’s Politburo for
decision.
“If the project gets the nod from the government and the Politburo,
investors would come soon. Though the project is still on paper, a lot of
investors have expressed their wish to make investment there,” Hau said.
“We really hope that with the development of the national economy, the
projects would come true,” he continued, adding that the Quang Ninh provincial
authorities have suggested some specific policies relating to the taxation,
land and infrastructure to be applied in the Van Don economic zone – a special
zone.
Hau did not give a direct answer when he was asked if Quang Ninh
localities would propose the Politburo to allow Vietnamese people to go to
casinos. However, he said that the provincial officials have found out from the
surveys at some casinos in Cambodia that most of the visitors here are
Vietnamese. Especially, at some casinos in the areas neighboring to the
Vietnamese Tay Ninh province, there are more women than men.
This means that when Vietnam prohibits its citizens to go to casinos,
Vietnamese people would still try to go to casinos in foreign countries. If so,
the Vietnamese government fails to collect tax, which is a big problem.
“I dare not make comments about the macro policies. But I think that if
we are not brave, we would find it difficult to develop economy,” he said.
Hau’s words show that the Quang Ninh provincial authorities now keep
very cautious in the talks about casino, because they can see the opposition
from the public, experts and officials against casino projects.
However, some economists have said that Vietnam should not say “no” to
all casino projects.
If Vietnam refuses to set up casino in its territory, casinos would
arise in Cambodia or Laos which would attract Vietnamese people. The government
should think for other people, and it should not prohibit the actual demand of
many people for playing games.
Regarding the social evils to be caused by the casinos, an analyst has
pointed out that crimes are committed by people--not by the guns, and
people--not casinos, are the culprits of the evils.
Canh Thai
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