Sam Hou Fai meets with Macau casinos bosses

The candidate for chief executive urged casino operators to ensure the industry maintains “a healthy, orderly and sustainable development in accordance with the law.”

Macau.- Sam Hou Fai, the only candidate for the position of chief executive (CE) in Macau, met on Thursday (September 12) with leaders of the city’s six casino concessionaires. Discussions revolved around the status of the industry and strategies to transform Macau into a global tourism and leisure hub.

During the meeting, Hou Fai praised the contributions made to Macau’s socio-economic development and encouraged operators to ensure the industry continues to develop in “a healthy, orderly and sustainable development in accordance with the law.”

Hou Fai also urged casino operators to continue promoting an “adequate diversification” of the city’s economy. The former judge has previously said diversification was essential for the city’s development and that despite driving rapid development since 1999, gaming has led to imbalances in the economy and workforce.

The meeting was attended by 12 representatives from the casino concessionaires, including Pansy Ho, chairperson of MGM China; Kenneth Feng, president of MGM Grand Paradise; and Lawrence Ho of Melco Resorts. Also in attendance were Wilfred Wong Ying Wai, vice chairman of Sands China; Grant Chum Kwan Lock, CEO of Sands China; Lawrence Ho Yau Lung, chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment; Francis Lui Yiu Tung, vice president of Galaxy Entertainment Group; Linda Chen Chih Ling, president of Wynn Macau; and Daisy Ho Chiu Fung, chairperson and executive director of SJM Holdings.

The election for chief executive will be held on October 13, with the next CE to take office on December 19.In August, Ho Iat Seng, Macau’s current CE, announced that he was not going to seek re-election due to health reasons. He became the first chief executive not to do so since elections were first held in 1999.

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