The CEO junket group Suncity Group, Alvin Chau, has issued a public statement denying the recent storm of rumours alleging the company was the target of a nationwide anti-crime operation by Chinese authorities or that it supported Hong Kong independence.
Online rumours circulating in recent days accused the group of subsidising Hong Kong protesters and rioters and supporting Hong Kong independence, with others alleging that Chinese authorities were investigating the group’s mobile app, using the information to investigate high profile clients and freezing their accounts.
Some videos making the rounds in social media also alleged that the rumours had led to a run by the group’s clients to withdraw deposits in Suncity casino accounts, with footage of alleged lines in local VIP rooms to withdraw the funds.
In a video issued by Suncity, Chau expressed that the rumours of support towards Hong Kong rioters were “extremely absurd and unreasonable”.
“I was born and raised in Macau and my company is also deeply rooted in Macau, with whole-hearted devotion to the Motherland. What would be my reasons for subsidizing Hong Kong rioters and why would I jeopardize my country”, Chau states in a video showcasing photos of several patriotic events the company has been involved.
Concerning the Chinese authorities investigation, Chau stated that the group had not received any information request from Mainland or overseas authorities demanding such information.
“As an institution lawfully registered in Macau and regulated by the Macau Personal Data Protection act. Suncity Group is strictly forbidden to disclose any customer information,” Chau noted.
The Suncity CEO also again reiterated that the company has followed Macau regulations and had no personnel station in Mainland China connected to gambling-related services, or engaged in illegal underground cash transfers
Other rumours alleged the group’s app had been hacked and that personal private data had been leaked.
“I think everyone knows that mobile app is just software and no customer information is stored in the system, nor does it save customer information. Our server is placed in Macau. Here I can assure all of you, we have never encountered any leakage of information,” Chau noted.
The group’s mobile app was also said to be operated and maintained by a professional team with its 24-hour monitoring system not recording any hacker attacks.
The Suncity CEO also had to address rumours suggesting the company was in a dire financial situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with Chau underling that the company had a VIP room cashflow of about HK$18.6 billion, with the company having HK$16.5 in bank deposits and a fiscal reserve of some HK$10.5 billion.
“Our financial situation is stable. We have the capability and enough capital. The group’s total assets can absolutely be used to offset all chip deposits of all clients, foreseeable losses and bad debts. Suncity is a very stable financial platform […] We have never fired one single local employee,” he stated.
“I firmly condemn the actions of some rumour-mongers. With malicious intent to undermine the economy of Macau”
Public statements by the Suncity CEO are rare, with Chau having in the past held a press conference to personally deny accusations from a Chinese state-run media report alleging that the company was operating an online gaming platform targeting Mainland China customers.
