Mainland labor market open to Macau: Official
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-01-10 17:02

A liaison official of China's central government in Macau has said the mainland labor market is open to the special administrative region, local media reported Tuesday.

Macau Post Daily quoted He Xiaowei, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the central government in Macau, as saying that the access will not open to the region's blossoming gaming industry.

He said the gaming industry has been experiencing unprecedented growth, grasping a large number of local employees from other business sectors as insurance and finance, causing the manpower shortage.

He, who heads the economic affairs section of the liaison office, said he wishes that the government of the Macau Special Administrative Region would do more to help develop non-gaming industries.

The gross receipts of Macau's gaming and betting sector reached a record 46 billion patacas (US$575 million) in 2005, a year-on-year rise of 9 percent.

Direct tax paid by the previous 17 casinos dominates over 70 percent of the government's yearly revenue.

The 18th casino was opened in Macau over the past week and the number is expected to reach 20 within the next few weeks.