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The eyes in charge of security when the Venetian Macao  opens late this month  won't be the ones originally hired to watch over the vast resort and casino complex.

Norman MacKillop, the casino's head of security for almost two years, was dismissed in May, and employment contracts offered to two other decorated former Hong Kong police officers were  rescinded before they could begin work.

The sackings come amid rising anger over the number of foreigners being employed in the booming gaming industry and pressure on the government to do something about it.

Resentment towards the growing foreign presence was one of the reasons behind a Labour Day march that grew unruly, prompting police to fire shots into the air.

Rumours have been circulating in the industry that senior government officials told the owners of the Venetian and the Sands Macao that they risked the 'goodwill' of the former Portuguese colony if they continued to ignore locals for top security positions.

Mr MacKillop had been leading the investigations department of Venetian Macao for almost two years when his position was abruptly terminated on May 16.

Fellow former Hong Kong policeman Dave Maddoc-Jones, who served as a district commander and chief superintendent, had his contract withdrawn just days before he was due to start his job as investigations  vice-president.

Retired officer Mark Pace, who had returned to the region from Britain to take up the post, suffered the same fate.

A Venetian spokesman said: 'It is our company policy not to discuss any details regarding the employment of any individual at our companies.'

Mr MacKillop and Mr Maddoc-Jones, who have both found new jobs with security companies, said no reasons were given for the reversals.

Mr MacKillop said the casino had approached him to come from Britain almost two years before.

'I'm completely in the dark. It's a mystery,' he said. 'There were no problems, I worked well with my colleagues and the relationship seemed fine. I was told there was nothing wrong but the relationship had to end.'

Mr Maddoc-Jones said that a week after he was offered the job he was called and 'rather sheepishly' told the offer had been withdrawn.

'I had spent a couple of days there, and I was very impressed by the people they had working there. It was a very professional team.'

Legislator Jose Coutinho said locals were frequently subjected to employment discrimination in Macau, especially in foreign-owned casinos, and there was increasing pressure from the government to do something about the problem. The government may have asked the casino owners to look for locals to run security.

'There are many, many people here who are experienced and can handle these jobs as well as a former Hong Kong policeman,' Mr Coutinho said. 'While we believe in a free market, that doesn't mean they should ignore locals.'

Philip Curlewis, director of the security consultancy Abate Risk, said the decision to remove the officers was probably  political.

Politicians and the government were feeling the heat over foreign jobs and so gaining work permits was becoming harder. 'This is definitely not about the officer's ability to do the job; it's about trying to keep the peace in Macau,' he said.

Even so, Mr Curlewis said casinos preferred former Hong Kong police officers to local officers because there were fewer concerns over potential connections to organised crime.



Bias feared after Venetian Macao  sacks security staff