MACAU >> action alert: 20/05/08
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URGENT
ACTION >> please
contact the Macau authorities to
protest about greyhound racing in Macau ... click
here
Like other south east asian countries, Macau is expanding it's greyhound racing industry. As in the rest of Asia, most of the dogs are coming from Australia. The Canidrome greyhound track admits killing greyhounds that are surplus to requirements. The Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau, SA (abbreviated as STDM) and the Canidrome are owned by Stanley Ho and his family. He held a monopoly to Macau's gambling industry as the only licensee for casinos. In 2002, the Macau government began issuing more licenses and the monopoly was broken. Still, of the 17 casinos in operation in Macau, 14 are owned by Stanley Ho The
company was founded in 1962 by Stanley Ho and his then partners
Teddy Yip (Stanley Ho's brother-in-law through his sister, Susie
Ho), Yip Hon and Henry Fok. Greyhound Action International requested that the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals address the greyhound issue at their meeting with the Macau governement on 8th August 2002. Below are excerpts from the HKSPCA report:- "It was stressed that international groups were concerned about the state of animal welfare in Macau. This specifically pertained to 1)Horse racing, 2) Greyhound racing and 3) animal overpopulation control. It was determined that we would address these issues in the meeting. Greyhound racing .... they felt that they had no control over the situation. Animals were raised locally or imported. The figure of 1,000 licensed racing dogs was quoted. Once again, they were interested and receptive to change, but questioned whether this could be done through legislation. At this juncture they indicated the lack of animal welfare legislation and the fact that change would be difficult to effect. Animal overpopulation There has been much improvement since my last trip.Tranquilliser as opposed to electrocution was now conducting euthanasia. The drugs were now available in Macau and were supplied by the Government. They stated that they received about 60 – 70 animals a month, the great majority, over 90% having to be ‘put to sleep’. They suggested that there were about 3,500 pet owning families in Macau, about 10% of the population. It was also found that the animal welfare laws in Macau are apparently non-existent or at the least extremely archaic. This area would also need to be addressed. They were concerned about the difference between their law and Hong Kong, when it was emphasised that laws could be changed based on models in other jurisdictions. It just took time. Summary It is recommended that we maintain our liaison with the Macau Government to effect change. This can be done at the present minimal level and does not need expanding. They should be provided with research and information that we have in the various areas and encouraged to make change. In addition, budgets allowing, funding of their trip to Hong Kong should be encouraged. It is felt that change in Macau can be effected more easily through Government than the private individuals who were met at the early part of the year. It is questionable whether a self-funding SPCA in Macau would be viable, due to the small animal owning population.
Please write to the people listed below and register your objections. You may like to use the sample letter as a model. Please remember greyhound racing in Asia is greatly dependant on the tourist trade to keep going. Please let the tourist offices in your areas know what you think about greyhound racing in Macau. Sample letter for Macau Dear Sir I am writing to you regarding greyhound racing in Macau. I am aware that greyhounds that are surplus to requirements are being slaughtered. Abusing animals in the name of entertainment and then killing them for human consumption is NOT a tourist attraction and it will inevitably have a negative effect on your tourist trade. The greyhound racing industry has been in decline for many years especially in the USA where the industry has had massive financial losses. This is for several reasons, the first being that it has been recognised as a cruel sport and banned in many states in the USA and even more recently it has been abolished in South Africa. The second reason is that by far more profitable ventures such as lotteries and casinos have increased in popularity and attracted the public and the tourist trade. The third reason is that greyhound racing attracts and is associated with the criminal underworld and the use of illegal drugs as recently exposed in a documentary by the BBC. I urge you to reconsider and keep greyhound racing out Macau. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Edmund Ho Hau-wah Chief Executive of Macau Central Office of the Government of Macau SAR Avenida da Praia Grande, Macau. Tel: 989 5313 or 989 5316. Fax: 726 168. His
Excellency Hu Jintao,
People's Republic of China Mr.Stanley Ho- owner of STDM & the Canidrome(Greyhound Stadium) Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, S.A.R.L., Head Office, 9/F Hotel Lisboa, Old Wing, Macau (tel: 574-266, 566-065). Direcção dos Serviços de Turismo (Macau Government Tourist Office) Largo do Senado 9, Edificio Ritz, Macau Tel: 315 566 or 513 355. Fax: 510 104. CANIDROME Sociedade
de Jogos de Macau, S.A.(SJM) Shun
Tak Holdings Ltd Tel:
(852) 2859 3111 1 Battersea Church Road, London SW11 3LY, UK Tel: (020) 7771 7006. Fax: (020) 7771 7059. Macau Government Tourist Office Integrated Travel Resources Inc, Suite 660, 5757 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045-6407, USA Tel: (310) 670 2234 or (877) 622 2800 (toll free in USA and Canada only). Fax: (310) 338 0708. Macau Government Tourist Office GPO Box 5457 Sydney NSW 2001 Telephone:
+61 2 8272 7878 Fax: +61 2 9241 6510 and for contact details of other Macau authorities click here Please also contact the national/international media & your local tourist offices and let them know what you think about greyhound racing in Asia.
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Macau
Government and other authorities:
click
here
click
here
Macau
Jockey Club Phone: (853) 821188, Fax: (853) 820503 Mr
Stanley Ho - Chairman
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NOW:
PO Box 127, Kidderminster, DY10 3UZ. |
