Private Eyes Discuss Macau Risks

I-OnAsia expects that the overall number of violent cases in Macau, as well as the magnitude of the cases themselves, will fall compared to a year ago. Most likely, this is because with the local economy booming, Macanese gangsters have been far too busy making money by maintaining the peace to resort to violence. Analysis of law enforcement actions in Macau, Hong Kong, and Guangdong against organized crime in the region supports this fact. In 2004, Hong Kong listed businesses with operations in Macau saw their stocks rise by over 500%, and property investors there have more than doubled their money. In November 2004, the South China Morning Post reported an 18.7% year on year drop in violent cases, which far outpaced the overall decline in the crime rate of 4%. During the first three quarters of 2004, there had also been far less high impact gangland conflict of the type experienced before a 1999 truce brokered between rival gangs and the subsequent incarceration of 14K Triad boss “Broken Tooth” Wan Kuok-Kui. The largest coordinated anti-triad enforcement action in 2004, which was code named Sun Rise and resulted in the arrest of an amazing 1,569 suspected triad members, was aimed at combating vice (such as prostitution, illegal bookmaking, and illicit drugs).