Canidrome seeks contract renewal with social initiatives

Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) director Angela Leong is seeking to secure the operations of Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co by introducing initiatives benefiting the cultural and creative industries and the sports sector.
Before the government announces the fate of the Canidrome, Leong expressed her desire on the sidelines of the Macau Grand Prix yesterday that the group would hope to extend their short-term agreement.
“While there isn’t an official announcement of the short-term contract extension, I wish it would be about two or three years,” said the 54-year-old. “We have staff members aged from 50 to 60; what jobs can they take up [after departure]?”
The operator has appealed for the retention of the greyhound race venue in its ongoing dialogue with the authorities. It has promised to introduce schemes that the region’s youth could take advantage of, especially initiatives concerning cultural and creative pursuits as well as the sporting domain.
The possible initiatives are intended to echo society’s demands for the release of land resources from the dog-racing track in order to build facilities for social wellbeing.
In addition, Leong said that a dormitory benefitting the younger generation would be provided by the Canidrome if its business were approved to continue. “It is to let the youngsters rent places at a cheaper price,” she said.
Earlier last month, a joint poll conducted by three neighborhood associations suggested that half of the 900 respondents aged over 14 are in favor of preserving the only dog-racing track in Asia.