Angela Leong handed ultimatum over future of greyhounds at Macau’s dog track

With contract to run the canidrome soon to expire, government turns up the heat on influential local figure, amid fears for safety of 650 greyhounds

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The clock is ticking on the contract to run the dog track. Photo: Alamy

Published: 9:00pm, 18 Jul 2018Updated: 11:18pm, 18 Jul 2018

One of the most influential women in Macau has been handed a 48-hour deadline to secure the futures of hundreds of racing dogs, or face legal action.

Angela Leong On-kei – businesswoman, legislator and fourth wife of casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun – was handed the ultimatum on Wednesday at a press conference in the former Portuguese enclave, attended by seven government officials, including the city’s top gaming regulator, Paulo Martins Chan.

As the clock ticked on the soon-to-expire contract to run the city’s dog track – held by Leong’s company, Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome – Chan said: “The government cannot be expected to assume responsibility for the animals. It is up to the owners to come up with a solution to the problem. Their contract expires on July 20.”

The track staged its last race at the end of June.

It is the latest twist in a furore over what will happen to the 650 greyhounds still kennelled at Asia’s last canidrome, fuelled by fears that they will end up either running in illegal races in mainland China, or on the menus at restaurants serving people with exotic tastes.

The Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome staged its last race in June. Photo: Sam Tsang

Animal rights activists have fought – as yet in vain – to secure a regulated adoption programme and on Wednesday officials, under increasing pressure to find a solution, turned up the heat on Leong.