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image: https://diybackpacker.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/macaupostcard.jpg

     Macau's reputation as the center of Chinese gambling is under threat after Chinese President Xi Jinping further increased pressure on anti-corruption and economic diversity. Especially threatened are the city's junket operators, whose rich clients are commonly accused of illicit business and agreements during their visits to Macau.
     In response to the pressure, David Group announced it would be closing 4 out of its 5 gambling rooms in Macau, after claims by Frank Ng that the company plans to move its business to the Philippines, Vietnam and South Korea, countries which have all entered the gambling industry relatively recently.
     However, there might yet be hope for Macau, as Ng describes the current conditions not as an ending, but as a hibernation until things improve.
     While David Group might be moving, reports show that China's gamblers aren't going with them, instead ceasing to gamble at all. Casinos in Manila and Vietnam have suffered disappointing revenues in their opening years, as they fail to attract visitors.
     Regardless, Macau's gambling revenue fell for the first time in a decade, leaving many to wonder whether this is a small bump for the industry that makes up over half of Macau's revenue, or the end of a global gambling empire.

     I personally would be sad to see the casinos go. Sure, some may argue that they've robbed Macau of its cultural identity, and replaced it with a corporate, modern environment, but I know that Macau is still the same place at heart as it was when I was young. I find that the casinos, mostly built on reclaimed land, do not dominate the local culture, instead changing it, adding a new, modernized dimension. I am sure that no local would claim that they do not enjoy the new shopping malls, restaurants, and global recognition that the gambling industry has brought, and the local shops and markets certainly benefit from the huge seasonal population increase that has flooded the area with Chinese money.
     Then again, maybe Macau wasn't made for this kind of huge, bustling industry. The shops and restaurants that I enjoyed as a child may still be there, but should development and construction continue at its current pace, I cannot see how these businesses will survive the competition for space and location.
     As a small economy, Macau could also easily become economically over-reliant on gambling, as some may argue it already has. It will be interesting how the Macanese government itself will respond to Xi Jinping's demand for diversification, and whether it will be possible at all to distance the economy from its gambling reputation.
     My greatest fear is that Macau will become a has-been, once-was city, its once-dazzling and vibrant skyscrapers decorating a deserted city that failed to adapt to the changing times and was left behind. Perhaps the construction of the HK-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge will cause the tourism to relapse, and Macau will return to its economic growth, but the volatility of the industry has already been demonstrated, and whatever happens, I just hope that Macau will remain recognizable as my childhood home.

My Grandmother's restaurant in Taipa Village image: http://i.yp.mo/kiulam/

Read More Here:

Forbes
Business Insider: 1, 2

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     Happy New Year from Hong Kong! It's been a while, but I am currently writing college apps, and have had to put this blog on hold just temporarily.
     A lot of things have happened since I last posted in the worlds of business and science and I have a lot of catching up to do! I'm definitely looking forward to 2015, and I have a feeling that it's going to be a great year.
     See you all soon with more news! 新年快樂！

     When I first started this blog, I didn't plan for any personal content, but some recent events in my life seem relevant enough to be publishable.

     Over this past summer, I worked in a physical chemistry lab at Tufts University, joining their research in water purification via transition-metal doped titanium dioxide. Expect more posts about this subject, and as water-purification is not a subject which spawns much ethical controversy (at least I like to think so), I'll be publishing normal posts as well.

-Stanley

As the title suggests, I'm recovering from the recent dearth of postings, and will be posting actively again. The end of Upper year (11th grade for 99.9% of you) was a hugely strenuous time for me, filled with time-siphoning end of year projects and examinations. Now that summer has come I look forward to exploring the world of Ethics with you again.

     Hello world! My name is Stanley Ng, and I am currently a junior in high school. I go to Phillips Academy (Andover, the only worthwhile one), and I am starting this blog to pursue my interest of business, particularly business ethics.
     I first developed my interest in business through my parents, who started their own business not so long after I was born. Today, this business puts food on the table for my family, and my living room is often abuzz with business discussions and debate. Growing up in this environment, I gained insight into the operation of a small business, and this prompted me to think more deeply about the role of companies in our society.
      The ethical side of businesses often takes a backseat to the more market-oriented actions of a company, whether they be economic, scientific, or even social. However, I believe that a company's ethical mindset can tell us more about its inner workings than what goes on at the surface. How is ethicality judged? Is there a relationship between the ethicality of a company and its performance on the market? How does business ethicality differ from social morality? 
     I will be exploring these questions, (as well as many other business-related topics) on this blog. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy what I have to say.