MACANESE PROTEST LABOR POLICIES AND CORRUPTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L HONG KONG 004809

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR DENNIS WILDER
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2031
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINR CH HK MC
SUBJECT: MACANESE PROTEST LABOR POLICIES AND CORRUPTION

REF: HONG KONG 001818

Classified By: E/P Chief Laurent Charbonnet. Reasons: 1.4(b,d).


1. (C) Summary and comment: Approximately 600 workers and
citizens in Macau took to the streets on December 20, the
seventh anniversary of Macau's reversion to the PRC, to
protest labor issues and government corruption in the Macau
Special Administrative Region (MSAR). Unlike the May 1, 2006
demonstrations against foreign laborers, however, the
protests were non-violent. Only hours after the march,
Macau's Chief Executive stressed social harmony for the MSAR
during his speech at a reception in honor of the seventh
anniversary. Comment: The demonstration, though peaceful
and orderly, signifies continuing disatisfaction among
certain sectors in Macau with Chief Executive Edmund Ho's
permitting significant imports of cheaper foreign laborers
while failing to upgrade the domestic labor force with
training and education. The march also exposes inadequacies
in the remedial measures unveiled in Ho's policy address in
November. End summary and comment.


2. (C) Reminiscent of reftel protests in May 2006,
approximately 600 workers and citizens in Macau took to the
streets on December 20 -- the seventh anniversary of Macau's
reversion to the PRC -- to protest labor issues and
corruption in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
In marked contrast to the May incident, however, the
protests were non-violent. The workers were organized by
local construction unions and accompanied by pro-democracy
lawmakers Antonio Ng and Au Kam-san. The protest organizers
reportedly said this was the first time a march was held on a
handover anniversary in Macau. Antonio Ng told us that
Macau's "grassroots people" did not want the march to turn
violent because they would "lose face," but had to act
because of serious social problems in the MSAR. Ng also said
Macau's middle class has expressed the need for "social
action" by the government, especially against corruption, and
that "we should expect the same in May 2007."


3. (SBU) The "Association Promoting the Opinion of the
Workers" and the "Union for Moulding Professionals"
reportedly organized the march to demand that the government
clamp down on illegal workers and stop the importation of
foreign labor in the approximately 28 square kilometer MSAR,
which has been experiencing extremely rapid econnomic growth
due to investment in the gaming, tourism, and construction
sectors. In addition to banners, some marchers carried empty
bowls to signify that their livelihoods had been stripped
away by the government. Protestors also displayed banners
accusing the government of collusion with the business
sector, and urged the government to address corruption in the
Macau administration, following the mid-December arrest of
Macau's former Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ao
Man-long. Only hours after the march, Macau's Chief
Executive stressed social harmony for the MSAR during his
speech at a reception marking the seventh anniversary of the
handover.
Cunningham