Inside Asian Gaming

IAG JAN 2022年1月 亞博匯 92 GOVERNMENT RESPONSE The government provided an analysis of and response to the public’s views on the dividend authorization proposal, some of which weremerely in line with the initial consultation document. However, some new information was forthcoming. The government response noted, “The opinions collected during the consultation period do not agree with the proposed restriction, and the main reasons for disagreement are that it will interfereinfreemarketoperations and may affect the investment intentions of concessionaires. “The SAR government will consider the concerns and suggestions put forward by various stakeholders and comprehensively analyze the overall content of the amendment and evaluate positive and negative impacts … in order to amend the law to protect the relevant interests.” Did you notice it? The amendment was presented as a fait accompli . The government is saying, “Yes, we hear your objections, butguesswhat, there’s going to be an amendment to the gaming law on this anyway.” The response also stated, “The gambling industry is a special industry.” This might be code for, “Yes, we understand our proposal is against normal free market principles and even contrary to general Macau commercial law, but you have to understand that gaming is ‘special’, and that’s our justification for doing this.” The government is saying, “Yes, we hear your objections, but guess what, there’s going to be an amendment to the gaming law on this anyway.” 政府是在說：「是的，我們聽到了你們的反 對意見，但無論如何我們都會對博彩法按照 這個方向進行修訂。」 IN FOCUS