Thousands march in Macau for democracy, clean govt

By James Pomfret

MACAU (Reuters) - More than 1,000 people marched through Macau streets on Thursday demanding an end to corruption and calling for greater democracy at a time of mounting tensions and social inequalities in the gambling haven.

"Fight for democracy. Protect our livelihood," shouted the protesters, who brandished banners and shouted slogans denouncing what they called the authorities' poor and opaque governance of the former Portuguese enclave.

The rally marked the eighth anniversary of Macau's reversion to Chinese rule, and came as the city of about 500,000 grapples with a raft of challenges that have accompanied an unprecedented boom in its casino industry.

Earlier in the day, Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho presided over a flag-raising ceremony to mark the anniversary.

Macau's rich-poor divide has widened in recent years, and the city's biggest ever corruption trial, involving former secretary for transport and public works, Ao Man-long, has rekindled worries about endemic graft.

"Do you think Ao Man-long is the only corrupt official in Macau?" opposition legislator Au Kam-san shouted through a loudhailer. The protesters yelled back "No".

Since 2002, Macau has flung open its doors to Western gaming giants such as Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Mirage, which opened a 600-room joint venture gambling hotel in Macau earlier this week.

To feed the construction and hiring boom, Macau has had to import workers, and the marchers on Thursday protested what they called an influx of illegal labourers.