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  Straits Times 16 Sep 07
Hong Kong rules out building casinos to compete with Macau
HONG KONG will not build casinos to compete with its booming neighbour Macau, which has surpassed the Las Vegas Strip in gaming revenue, an official said.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Frederick Ma, speaking to reporters after a banquet held by the hotel industry late on Friday, acknowledged that the fast casino growth in Macau posed a challenge to Hong Kong.

'It's definitely somewhat of a challenge to the tourism industry,' he said.

But Mr Ma said that the Hong Kong government would not consider building casinos to compete with Macau.

'The government doesn't think it would help the tourism industry if Hong Kong built one or two casinos because Macau has many casinos like Las Vegas,' he added.

He also said that not considering casinos was a 'matter of principle', but did not elaborate.

Hong Kong currently allows only three forms of gambling - on horse races, soccer matches and a numbers game. AP
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