In a matter of weeks the whole mechanics of the MSAR Government has changed. Now, the secretaries come out in public to hear the people, the media, the professionals and the operators in each and every sector under each one’s supervision. The gov’t secretaries came out of the seclusion of their offices in order to explain their plans, to gain the trust and support for their plans; and to make promises publicly with policies and deadlines. Notwithstanding the profile of each of the members of Dr Chui’s team, the Chief should be behind this new way of operation. More or less ‘advised’ by the Central Government, Chui Sai On is to be credited for this – for good or bad.
A promising hand if you’ve got the right numbers – of players, capital and contacts, but anything can happen depending on what comes next. Revenue’s down, 2.6 percent way down; the big boss’s watching more closely; investors got scared off by the Huang Shan scam hitting liquidity and closing doors of some VIP operators.
Local expert, Ben Lee, reckons on a couple of ways forward: either the big junket operators holding about 60 percent of the VIP market will absorb the smaller fish or will be more selective with their clientele.
Now’s the time to get back to business basics of playing a solid game: building stronger relationships with casino operators, marketing to the right players and understanding the new rules. Bulls have become bears but it’s either way for 2015.
The new Secretary for Security’s “state of grace,” which is usually enjoyed by newly-appointed politicians, may not last long for Wong Sio Chak. The year started with the news about Emily Lau being barred from entering the territory. Ms Lau, who is a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (Legco) and leader of the Democratic Party, came to Macau accompanied by friends, allegedly for leisure. Nevertheless, she was barred. “This is ridiculous,” she said. “It sends a very wrong message to the people in both Macau and Hong Kong; that the ‘one country, two systems’ principle is fading.”
In recent times, there have been too many cases of people being prohibited from entering Macau, with the police always citing the Internal Security Law and security concerns. To bar someone on those grounds is a very serious matter and much more so when the person is a lawmaker. Secretary Wong needs to give more explanations about these cases; otherwise, it appears that people are being barred simply because they think differently. Is this not what it seems?
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