Secretary for Economy and Finance, Francis Tam, today (30 August) confirmed that the Macao Jockey Club (MJC) had backed down the application for taking bets on horse races aboard.

Mr. Tam said that the authority was glad to hear that further negotiation would be progressed by the two Hong Kong and Macao Jockey Clubs. He believed that the two clubs would discuss under the principle of mutual benefits so as to achieve a long-term beneficial proposal of both sides.

The Macao Government received the MJC's application for taking bets on horse races aboard on 20 August.