China Rises blog comments on the high-profile corruption trial now underway in Macau:
It took prosecutors five hours Monday to read the 76 counts against Ao Man-long, the sacked secretary of transport and public works, who is accused of taking kickbacks from construction contracts and land sales as well as fast-tracking development of casinos.
…But rather than draw the focus on Ao Man-long, perhaps the focus ought to be on Edmund Ho, the chief executive of the former Portuguese enclave who was his patron.
Investment is flooding into Macau, and land is scarce there. Is it credible to think that Edmund Ho did not know the details of the transactions that Ao managed? [Full text]
Le Monde Diplomatique has also published a lengthy report, “Macau’s big gamble on the future“, available to subscribers only:
Since the former Portuguese colony was returned to China, it has determined to become the world’s casino centre. And in just four years of unrestrained investment, speculation and building, it has beaten Las Vegas in table takings.
