Royal Cambodian Armed Forces chief of joint staff Hun Manet has said he disagrees that Preah Sihanouk province, where Chinese investment in hotels and casinos has skyrocketed, will become a second Macau. Lieutenant General Manet made the comment on Monday during a ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the Jing Gang Hotel in Sihanoukville, a hotbed of Chinese investment that has led to outrage from Cambodians that Chinese investors are turning the coastal province into their own playground.

 

Lt Gen Manet said that Sihanoukville should preserve its unique identity as a popular tourist destination and not turn into a second Macau, a casino destination. “I agree to explore potential investments over the long term, but I do not agree to allow Sihanoukville to be like Macau,” he said. “Sihanoukville must become a city with its own unique identity.”

 

The increase of foreign investment, mostly from Chinese building hotels and casinos, has led to worry over an increase in crime in the province, which was addressed by Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo last month. Mr Bo assured Cambodians that China would cooperate with Cambodian authorities in punishing any of his countrymen committing crimes.

 

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50112151/hun-manet-sihanoukville-is-not-macau/

 

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 07/03

He sounds like another PM I know across the border

I visited Sihanoukville about 4 years ago. The casinos were dead. Some developments (condos) built

and owned by the Chinese were finished and looked quite nice but were empty. Apparently, the Chinese

like to leave apartments they buy on speculation empty. Better resale to other Chinese speculators if

they have never been lived in. I will have to make another side trip to Sihanoukville to check out all this

new activity. One thing is for sure I don't believe it will be another Macau. Just not handy enough for

Chinese gamblers compared to Macau.