UMAC Bridges 2007 May
University of Macau // Department of Communication
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Passing down the street, hearing the angels' voices floating in the air - a group of young people with their shining instruments playing music.
"We don't know why, it seems to be a sort of ritual, while in Hong Kong, people go to Queen's Square on Sundays, in Macau, we've found the Senado Square."
"It's hard to survive," said Ken (pseudonym), a 34-year-old man who has been selling pirated CDs for many years.
The land of the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) was expanded to 31.18 square kilometers in 2006 due to massive land reclamation projects.
Under the circumstances of people getting rich from the prosperous gambling industry, the number of traffic fines increased in 2006.
With an appearance of a hotel building, when one enters there's a traditional old style restaurant on the left hand side of the lobby.
 
Hidden Alarm
Casino Car Service Upsets Taxi Industry
By Patty Man
 
People get on a shuttle bus

Recently, the taxi industry in Macau complained to the government that their business is seriously threatened by casinos which provide shuttle buses and car services to attract more customers.

In addition, casinos offer shuttle buses for ordinary customers, and limousine service for VIPs. These services are usually free of charge. Shuttle buses have no stops but the Border Gate or the Ferry Terminal. V.I.P. cars could bring customers to wherever they want. This makes it difficult for taxi drivers to do business in casino areas.

On January 28, Kuok Liang Sun, the director of the taxi industry association, complained on behalf of the taxi industry to the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (CMAB) that some casinos offer a limo service to individual customers with some charges to particular destinations. Kuok said they were afraid more casinos would follow this trend and asked the government to intervene. The CMAB has acknowledged the receipt of the complaint, and promised that they would follow up the case immediately. But it has not come up with any plans or further actions on the issue.

One of the taxi drivers, Tam Pak Sum, who usually waits outside the New Century Hotel said, 'Nowadays, it is quite difficult to do business because hotels provide lots of shuttle buses. The business is better on weekends, as some Hong Kong visitors do not know that there are free shuttle buses. Sometimes I wait so long that I have to look for other people as customers instead of just waiting for casino customers.'

Casino shuttle buses mainly pick up people near the most popular entry points: the Border and the Macau Terminal. Visitors from Hong Kong and mainland China can take shuttle buses once they enter Macau.

'The shuttle buses are convenient. They are free of charge and they can take me to the place I want to. Even if I don't want to go to any casino, I can still get on one to tour around,' said Fong Yik Hoi, one of the visitors at the Border.

'Of course these services affect public bus and taxi businesses. Public buses are slower with many stops and taxis are expensive. However, casinos shuttle buses and cars are faster and bring convenience to customers. Such service could attract more customers. So, why not provide these services?' said Lam Weng Sin, a P.R. officer who works at the Grand Waldo Casino.

Moreover, Cheng Chan Hua, a casino manager at the Babylon Casino said, 'Because the market needs this service, that's why we provide exclusive services to our customers.'
<END>
Photos
The parking area for shuttle buses near the Border
Photo by Patty Man
Department of Communication - University of Macau. Last Updated May 09, 2007