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Stanley Ho: Hong Kong Government is a Bully22 May 2002MACAU – As reported by the Sing Tao: "Macau gambling magnate Stanley Ho accused the SAR government of `bullying' him yesterday after the Legislative Council passed a law amendment outlawing all offshore gambling. "The Gambling (Amendment) Ordinance will make punters and unauthorised bookmakers preparing to cash in on the World Cup football finals liable to heavy penalties, along with banks, mass media, pub owners and others who help them or provide venues. It will also deal a severe blow to Macau gambling interests that rely heavily on telephone bets from Hong Kong. "Hitting out at the bill yesterday, Ho lamented: `A big organisation [the SAR government] is now bullying a small one.' "Ho, who runs gambling operator Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJDM) and the Macau Jockey Club, said telephone bets from Hong Kong accounted for about 60 per cent of SJDM's total telephone bets. "Last night, spokesmen for three Macau gambling operators, the Macau Jockey Club, Macau Slot and Macau Dog - all subsidiaries of Ho's gambling enterprises - also condemned the new law. "…[A spokesman for the Macau Jockey Club] said Macau should not be treated as offshore area because, like Hong Kong, it was part of China. "The amended ordinance, which aims to prevent bets from being siphoned out of Hong Kong, will be gazetted on May 31 - the day the World Cup finals kick off. "…Welcoming the change last night, the [Hong Kong Jockey] club said unlicensed bookmakers were draining away gaming dollars that could be returned to society in taxes and donations…" |