Macau protests

Here's the whole SCMP story:

Protesters, police clash in Macau labour rally
5,000 march over imported workers and alleged government-business collusion

FOX YI HU in Macau

More than 5,000 Macau residents took their grievances over government labour policies to the streets yesterday, staging the largest protest since the restoration of Chinese rule in 1999.

Demonstrators clashed with police near Senado Square and outside the government headquarters. Twenty-five officers and at least two female protesters were injured. Three men and a woman were arrested.

The crowd broke through one of two police barriers outside the government headquarters. Legislator Jose Coutinho, who took part in the march, likened the demonstration to Hong Kong's July 1 protest in 2003, pointing to Macau's much smaller population of 480,000. More than half a million people took part in the Hong Kong protest over a proposed security law.

A majority of the Macau protesters were middle-aged workers, many jobless and angry over the rise in imported labourers and alleged collusion between government officials and businesses.

Some marchers were also calling for universal suffrage and greater democracy, or demanding immediate implementation of free high school education.

"I am only demanding a fair chance to survive," said marcher Fong Chio-weng, 52.

Mr Fong, the only breadwinner in a family of five, said he had lost his full-time job to imported construction workers, and earned less than 5,000 patacas a month as a temporary construction worker.

The demonstration was organised by eight small independent unions, including the Macau Workers Union and the Macau Public Cleaners Association. The pro-Beijing Federation of Trade Unions, an umbrella group leading most unions in Macau, stayed away from the march.

Tang Kuok-leong, a spokesman for the eight unions, questioned the authenticity of the 3.9 per cent jobless rate published by the government. "We believe the rate is about 4.5 per cent. The government understates the jobless rate by counting imported workers into the workforce," he said.

The marchers shouted slogans against gaming mogul Stanley Ho Hung-sun, his wife Angela Leong On-kei and key government officials. In a petition to Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah, the eight unions accused the government of corruption and of collusion with business, which they said had led to excessive labour importation and hiring of illegal workers.

Legislator Ng Kuok-cheong, who took part in the march, said collusion was the main cause of the labour dissent.

Police mobilised 450 officers, 20 police cars and 30 motorcycle riders to cope with the demonstration.

Security police chief Lei Siu-peng blamed marchers for changing a previously agreed route.

Of the 260,000 people working in Macau, about 43,000 are imported labourers.

Thanks, Richard! See, you CAN help those of us who carry little green footballs... :wink:

At the very least he can give you a seditive.