China says will offer consular assistance after Duterte orders the arrest of Macau casino boss

Record ID: 76395

  • Title: China says will offer consular assistance after Duterte orders the arrest of Macau casino boss
  • Date: 8th December 2016
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (DECEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LU KANG, WALKING IN FOR REGULAR BRIEFING MEDIA SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN, LU KANG, SAYING: "We've noticed the report. We would like to find out more details. As far as I know, the Chinese embassy to the Philippines is further verifying the situation. Since he is a Chinese citizen, we, our embassy to the Philippines, will offer corresponding consular assistance to the citizen involved under the scope of our duties." BRIEFING IN PROGRESS EXTERIOR OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING
  • Embargoed: 23rd December 2016 09:40
  • Keywords: Philippines Macau arrests Jack Lam China
  • Location: BEIJING AND MACAU, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING AND MACAU, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015C0XAO5
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: China said on Thursday (December 8) that it would provide consular assistance to Jack Lam, one of Asia's top casino kingpins after the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte ordered for his arrest on charges of economic sabotage and bribery.
    Philippine authorities said they have also shut down two properties in the country that are owned by Lam, a Chinese citizen and head of Hong Kong-listed Jimei International.
    Lam is not in the Philippines currently, National Police Chief Ronald Dela Rosa told reporters on Wednesday (December 7).
    Last month, Philippine immigration authorities detained about 1,200 Chinese men working in call centre-like facilities for running suspected online gambling operations out of a former U.S. air base, Clark Field.
    Dela Rosa said in a radio interview on Saturday (December 3) that an associate of Lam tried to secure their release. He said Duterte then ordered Lam's arrest.
    On Wednesday, Dela Rosa said Lam had indicated to the authorities that he was willing to return to the Philippines and assist in any investigations.
    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang was asked about Lam's case.
    "We've noticed the report. We would like to find out more details. As far as I know, Chinese embassy to the Philippines is further verifying the situation. Since he is a Chinese citizen, we, our embassy to the Philippines, will offer corresponding consular assistance to the citizen involved under the scope of our duties," Lu told media at a regular briefing in Beijing.
    Lam's casino operations in the cities of Laoag, which is in northern Luzon, and Clark, just north of Manila, have been shut down, according to local authorities and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.
    Lam, who used to bring high rollers to Macau's top casinos including Sands China and Wynn Macau, has faded from prominence over the past few years as Beijing's crackdown on corruption has crippled so-called junket operations.
    At the same time, Lam's operations in the Philippines have grown, including a rise in Chinese nationals gambling online at his gaming site.
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