Some netizens have complained about a wedding banquet which was held at Grand Lisboa Palace (GLP) in Cotai on June 18, on the eve of the announcement of the first case in the current COVID-19 outbreak, claiming that it had violated pandemic control and prevention rules.
Some of them alleged that senior government officials had attended the banquet and also claimed that the government had failed to disclose the information once the outbreak’s first case was announced.
However, Lei Seng Ion, the groom, told The Macau Post Daily on Saturday in a phone interview that there were only “one to two” government officials at his wedding. However, Lei said, they were neither a legislator nor “high ranking government officials” but only ordinary people working for the Judiciary Police (PJ).
Lei told The Macau Post Daily that he works in casino PR at Studio City.
Facing the rumours claiming that the wedding banquet had comprised 40 to 50 tables, Lei insisted there were only 33 tables, and that fewer than 350 guests participated in the banquet, adding that 350 was just a general number he gave to the Judiciary Police (PJ) when he was informed that one of his guests had tested positive for COVID-19.
Lei said he had been unable to provide an exact number of banqueteers to the Judiciary Police since some of them were the relatives or friends of some of the invited guests.
When asked about the details of the day when he was informed that he was a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 patient, Lei said on June 19 he was told by his friend that she had tested positive for the novel coronavirus, so she needed to submit Lei’s personal data, such as his full name, local ID card number and phone number to the government, after all the information was submitted, Lei added, he was questioned and informed by the Health Bureau (SSM) that he needed to be quarantined for medical observation on June 20. Lei said he thought it was funny that initially his wife was not on the list of people who needed to be taken to a quarantine hotel.
Lei told The Macau Post Daily that the Health Bureau did not ask for the names of his wedding guests until June 20, adding that he was asked about the personal data of his family and friends who were sitting close to the confirmed patient that day. Afterwards, Lei said, the Judiciary Police also called him on the same day, asking for the same information. Lei said it took time to prepare the full list of names and phone numbers since some banqueteers are not his friends or family members, while nowadays there are only a few people who still use phone numbers to contact others.
On June 22, Lei said, he was asked to submit the whole guest list and their personal data after three guests in total had tested positive for COVID-19, adding that he was told by PJ officers on that day that he only needed to submit the partial names of his guests, as there was no need for their full names.
Lei underlined that all the banquet’s guests, including himself, his friends and family members, have meanwhile been quarantined in the hotel.
Moreover, Lei also said that as a resident he appreciated the government’s anti-COVID-19 measures. However, he urged officials not to release any “uncertain” information, which could then be used by journalists and netizens to attack him and even the government itself.
This photo provided by Lei Seng Ion on Saturday shows the view from the hotel guestroom where he in quarantine for medical observation after his recent wedding banquet.
