Ads are disguised promotion for gambling: critics
The government has promised to look into the presence of two large advertisements outside a government sports complex to promote retailing at a gaming resort in Macau. The billboards have sparked criticism from education and parent groups, who are calling for their immediate removal.
The two advertisements - on the walls of the Hong Kong Sports Centre and the Hong Kong Squash Centre in Central - promote the new Sands hotel and casino being built on Macau's Cotai Strip.
Bearing the logo 'Sands and Las Vegas Corp', one advertisement reads 'Bringing the world's leading retailers together', while the other says 'Don't get left behind. Over 300 retailers already committed'.
The existing Sands casino in Macau is one of the most popular venues for gamblers from Hong Kong.
A spokeswoman for the government property agency said they would be 'following up on the issue' by checking the content of the advertisement. Advertising content relating to obscenity, tobacco or gambling cannot be posted outside government buildings.
Sands did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.
