By Paulo A. Azevedo
Founder of Macau Business
Chairman of Project Asia Corporation
During the process of casino gaming concession renewals, the government created press releases and compelled operators to send them as if they were their own. The initial shock and even the attempts to refuse by some, considering it an absolute absurdity to have their responsibilities overtaken and to see the government entering the exclusive sphere of activity of private companies listed internationally on the stock exchange, were eventually appeased by the respective teams.
All in the name of a renewal that only lasted ten years, far below the initial expectations given the volume of investments made over the last two decades. However, despite everything, it turned out to be ‘better’ than some people had thought. Years of uncertainty regarding the removal of one operator or another to open the door to others, from the region or even from the SAR, made those who felt most attacked reluctantly accept the situation.
This all-hands-on-deck example of Ho Iat Seng’s apparent leadership strategy extends to other sectors as well. Construction is also suffering, with investors complaining that they win a project but then cannot choose the subcontractors or companies they turn to for services and are presented with ‘suggestions’ for partners.
The most generous individuals could turn a blind eye to the very fine line between morality and procedural legality, confirming the veracity of the complaints made by several involved parties. If, by any chance, absolutely unquestionable values were at stake, such as national honour and national security—the usual reasons of state invoked whenever a leader wants to create exceptional cases, bypassing the scrutiny of the law, both in its letter and spirit. But the truth is that nothing in Macau justifies a government autocracy. Even worse, when it exists, the tendency is always to think that authoritarianism is present to prevent anyone from seeking the true reasons behind such an intense effort, so that no one questions it to avoid being excluded. As the saying goes: “There is no smoke without fire.”
As Macau is not, and will never be, in a phase of dissonance with Beijing, despite there sometimes being different interpretations of matters under consideration, it would be appropriate for the government to allow investors to continue investing in the development of their businesses transparently. Yes, regulation is necessary, but it should be guided by legislative norms and not by whims or decisions that are difficult to explain in light of the rule of law.
