The Liberal Party yesterday suffered a blow to its plan to broaden the tax base through revenue from gambling when lawmakers from all other parties voted against a motion to look at the feasibility of opening a casino in Hong Kong.
Secretary for Home Affairs Patrick Ho Chi-ping told the Legislative Council it was not necessary for the government to study the feasibility of the idea when its standpoint was to reject casinos outright.
The non-binding motion moved by Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun stemmed from the party's proposal two years ago to build a casino, which it argued would create jobs and increase the government's revenue from gaming tax, on Lantau.
Dr Ho, however, said opening casinos was no solution to a narrow tax base. He also said gambling should not be considered only in an economic context.
'As a responsible government, we need to try to prevent the growth of gambling culture,' he said. 'We oppose any plans to set up casinos in Hong Kong, and we have no plan to allow anyone to open a casino.'
Mr Tien said the tax revenues from a casino in Hong Kong would be enormous, judging from Macau's experience.
