US casino operator Las Vegas Sands Corp. said its proposal to build a massive resort and convention complex on China's Hengqin Island had taken an official step forward. Hengqin is part of the Zhuhai city government's administration in southern China and lies near the gambling mecca of Macau, where Las Vegas Sands already has one casino and will open another this year.
It said the Zhuhai government had established a "Project Coordination Committee specifically related to the company's proposed development of The Venetian Hengqin International Convention and Resort Project in Zhuhai."
Such a committee acts as the government liaison "empowered to work directly with the developer to advance the development of a project," Las Vegas Sands said in a statement.
"While the formation of a Project Coordination Committee is a positive step forward, the project remains subject to governmental approvals customary for projects of this scale in China," it said.
The project on Hengqin would cover 80 million square feet (7.4 million square meters) of development including a convention center, hotels, golf courses, marinas and vacation homes, according to Las Vegas Sands.
The Sands was the first foreign-owned casino to open in Macau -- in 2004 -- after the former Portuguese enclave's gaming market was liberalized in 2002, following 40 years under the control of local tycoon Stanley Ho.
The US group is boosting a new investment in Macau's Cotai Strip casino resorts by 25 percent to 10 billion dollars, to build an extra 6,000 hotel rooms along the 198-acre (80-hectare) channel of reclaimed land.
Sands' project in Cotai will feature a replica of the successful Venetian hotel in Las Vegas as well as up to five hotels including InterContinental and Holiday Inn operations.
