Ziying, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region, reportedly made the comments in Beijing to Macau delegates to the National People’s Congress. The body began a sitting this week.
Chinese-language media from the mainland and Macau reported the official as saying Macau should strengthen regulation of the gaming industry and focus its effort in managing economic and financial risks.
In terms of day-to-day operational scrutiny of the casino industry, it emerged last week that Macau casino industry representatives had pledged to the city’s authorities to help curb illicit currency exchange reported to have taken place in or near the city’s casinos.
Fu Ziying mentioned that the Macau government should ensure it monitored efficiently trends in the city’s gaming business and also kept track of external economic conditions that could possibly affect such business.
He further stated that the Macau government should continue to provide guidance to the casino operators in terms of “diversifying” their development with non-gaming offerings. He spoke in positive terms about Macau casino operators’ efforts so far regarding non-gaming business, such as provision of shopping facilities and space for conventions and exhibitions, and said that such endeavours should continue.
Source: GMB / GGR Asia
