Briefs | MGM hires Aaron Fischer

MGM Resorts International yesterday announced the appointment of Aaron Fischer as senior vice president of Corporate Development to assist the company and its affiliates in the development and strategic planning of integrated resorts in North America and Asia. “We are very excited to have Aaron on our team,” said Jim Murren, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International. “He is uniquely qualified to help MGM Resorts International access potential market opportunities domestically and particularly in Asia. Someone with his extensive experience will be a tremendous asset as we continue our global strategic planning.” Fischer recently served as the Head of Consumer and Gaming Research at CLSA, a boutique brokerage and investment group based in Hong Kong. He will now work from the MGM Resorts offices in Hong Kong.

Civil servants consider their incomes to be average

A recent survey published by the Macau Civil Servants Federation and two other associations indicates that civil servants consider their incomes to be relatively low or average, according to a report by Macao Daily News. The interviewed civil servants were found to have a low sense of belonging to their departments. The survey was conducted between June and September, with 1,540 valid questionnaires received by the organizers. The interviewees consisted mostly of people from the younger generation with higher education degrees who have worked for approximately ten years in public departments.

Protestors were allegedly paid to join HK demonstration

A few participants in Hong Kong’s demonstration against independence said that they had been paid to be part of the protest, according to a report by Apple Daily. Footage from an interview conducted by the media outlet shows a couple, claiming to be from Shekou, Shenzhen, revealing that someone surnamed Zhou gave each one of them HKD300 in order to attend the activity in Hong Kong. The woman even said to the journalist “you [as a Hong Kong citizen] are paid HKD600.” A 12-year-old Hong Kong girl also revealed to the journalist that her family brought her to the demonstration, and that she might get HKD100 for participating in it. She also said that they were told they would be treated to meals after the demonstration. The demonstration’s organizers claim that all participants joined the event at their own initiative.