The Government would strongly urge gaming operators to gradually increase the proportion of local employees to the middle and higher level managerial positions, the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, said today.

Mr Tam disclose this when he met representatives of a gaming employees association in the Labour Affairs Bureau this morning to hear their opinions following the laying off of some 200 staff by two gaming casinos several days ago.

He said the Government was deeply concerned and the Labour Affairs Bureau was actively following the case. He said he would meet representatives from all six gaming operators to discuss promotion prospects for local staff.

He stressed that the Government’s long-term goal was to see more local staff in managerial levels in the gaming industry.

When asked whether the lay off was a result of the Mainland’s adjustment to facilitated individual travel (FIT) scheme, Mr Tam said the operators made their decision based on commercial consideration.

He said the Government was reviewing the development of the gaming industry, and before that the review is completed, the total number of tables would remain at some 4,000.

Meanwhile, Mr Tam said the Labour Affairs Bureau would jointly run management courses that would help the gaming employees to upgrade themselves.