Macau casino licences are 'internal matter' for gambling hub, China says
HK businessman suing Las Vegas Sands for 'success fee'
Monday, 08 April, 2013 [Updated: 15:28]
Reuters in Beijing
Las Vegas Sands chief executive Sheldon Adelson testifies in a Las Vegas court on Friday. Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen claims the Sands owes him US$328 million for helping the company win a gambling license in Macau. Photo: AP
China said on Monday that Macau’s casino licence process is an internal matter for the special administrative region of Macau after a lawyer in a US court trial involving billionaire Sheldon Adelson alleged Beijing’s involvement.
At the trial in Nevada, Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands is being sued by Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen who claims he is owed millions of dollars for helping the casino obtain an operating licence in Macau more than a decade ago.
Suen, who is seeking US$328 million (HK$2.55 billion), alleges the Las Vegas company stiffed him on an agreed upon “success fee” for helping secure a permit for a hotel and casino in Macau, the world’s most lucrative gambling market.
In his opening argument on April 5, Suen’s lawyer, John O’Malley, detailed meetings he said Suen arranged for Adelson, including with one of China’s then-Vice Premier Qian Qichen and with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi. The lawyer said Adelson offered help in defeating a US House of Representatives resolution against awarding the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing.
In its first official comment on the matter, China’s government said it won the 2008 Olympics in accordance with the relevant processes and dismissed any involvement in Macau’s licence process.
“The process was carried out by the special administrative region’s government by themselves on the principles of openness and transparency in accordance with the law,” China’s foreign ministry said in response to a query from Reuters.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1209896/macau-casino-licences-are-internal-matter-gambling-hub-china-says
At the trial in Nevada, Adelson’s Las Vegas Sands is being sued by Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen who claims he is owed millions of dollars for helping the casino obtain an operating licence in Macau more than a decade ago.
Suen, who is seeking US$328 million (HK$2.55 billion), alleges the Las Vegas company stiffed him on an agreed upon “success fee” for helping secure a permit for a hotel and casino in Macau, the world’s most lucrative gambling market.
In his opening argument on April 5, Suen’s lawyer, John O’Malley, detailed meetings he said Suen arranged for Adelson, including with one of China’s then-Vice Premier Qian Qichen and with Beijing Mayor Liu Qi. The lawyer said Adelson offered help in defeating a US House of Representatives resolution against awarding the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing.
In its first official comment on the matter, China’s government said it won the 2008 Olympics in accordance with the relevant processes and dismissed any involvement in Macau’s licence process.
“The process was carried out by the special administrative region’s government by themselves on the principles of openness and transparency in accordance with the law,” China’s foreign ministry said in response to a query from Reuters.
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1209896/macau-casino-licences-are-internal-matter-gambling-hub-china-says
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