Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said yesterday that the nation's leaders acknowledge Macau's COVID-19 control and prevention work and support the achievements of Macau's appropriately diversified economic development.
Ho made the remarks during a press briefing at the local airport upon return from a four-day duty visit to Beijing.
Ho said that while in Beijing he separately briefed President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on Macau's situation and social and economic development. He pointed out that due to the COVID-19 predicament in the past two years, Macau's tourism has declined and the economy has been hit.
Ho said that Xi and Li clearly pointed out the problem of Macau's overdependence on just one industry [gaming] and that the central government will, as always, fully support Macau's appropriately diversified economic development. At the same time, Xi and Li expressed their full agreement with the Macau's government’s policy guidelines for next year and extended New Year’s greetings to local citizens, Ho said.
The chief executive underlined that while in Beijing he also visited several ministries and commissions related to the development of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone concerning its future development.Asked by the media whether his government will stick to its 130 billion gross gaming revenue (GGR) forecast concerning next year's budget, Ho responded that if there hadn't been three local COVID-19 incidents in Macau this year, in August, September and October, the government's GGR forecast of 130 billion patacas for this year would nearly have been met.
Macau's six gaming operators pay 35 percent of their respective GGR as direct tax to the government.
Ho acknowledged that the development of the epidemic in 2022 is unknown. Therefore, the government's original prediction that Macau's gross gaming revenue would reach 130 billion patacas this year will be maintained unchanged for next year, Ho said, adding that if Macau would be affected by new COVID-19 incidents next year the forecast once again could not be met.
Regarding the recent closure of some casinos' so-called VIP rooms for high-stakes gamblers, Ho pointed out that there exists a contractual relationship between the operators of the VIP rooms and the city's gaming concessionaires, a relationship that has nothing to do with the government. He emphasised that the government does not require Macau's gaming operators to run VIP rooms. He pointed out that in the past five years, the VIP room business has been shrinking, but that the government has still to assess the full impact of the VIP room closures on Macau's economy. As for employees affected by the VIP room closures, the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) is helping them find new employment or join retraining programmes, Ho said.
Macau's casino VIP rooms are traditionally run by junket businesses on behalf of casino operators. Junket operator Suncity announced recently the closure of all its VIP rooms after its chairman was remanded in custody for alleged organised crime activities, money laundering and illicit gambling businesses.
In addition, Ho responded to this week's report by the Commission of Audit (CA) on administrative irregularities in a company majority-owned by the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR). Ho pointed out that he set up a public asset supervision office after he became chief executive in December 2019, adding that the office will reorganise and remedy any existing problems affecting enterprises owned by the public sector, and also supervise the use of public funds. This year, Ho said, the focus has been on the winding-up or merger of several public entities.
In the future, he added, the relevant funds will be centrally managed, and proposed legislation on the matter has been submitted by the government to the Legislative Assembly for debate and vote.
Regarding this week's hard-hitting report by the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) on administrative irregularities and alleged illegalities in the granting of subsidies by a government-run fund to local schools, Ho said that the case has been transferred by the CCAC to the Public Prosecutions Office (MP) for follow-up action, adding that those found responsible for maladministration will be held accountable.
Concerning a possible COVID-19 quarantine-free travel arrangement between Macau and Hong Kong in the future, Ho said that the central government has given a green light to such an arrangement between Macau and Hong Kong in conjunction with the mainland, adding that any new developments on the Hong Kong-Macau quarantine front will be announced in due course.
Regarding the case of a former director of the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT) who was remanded in custody by the Public Prosecutions Office yesterday on suspicion of bribe-taking, money laundering and document forgery, Ho noted that the case has entered judicial proceedings and, consequently, it was not suitable for him to make any comments on the case at this stage.
Caption:
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng talks yesterday to the media at the local airport upon return from a four-day duty visit to Beijing. - Photo: GCS
