A liaison official of China's central government in Macao has said the mainland labor market is open to the special administrative region, local media reported Tuesday.

Macao Post Daily quoted He Xiaowei, deputy director of the Liaison Office of the central government in Macao, as saying that the access will not open to the region's blossoming gaming industry.

He said the gaming industry has been experiencing unprecedented growth, grasping a large number of local employees from other business sectors as insurance and finance, causing the manpower shortage.

He, who heads the economic affairs section of the liaison office, said he wishes that the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region would do more to help develop non-gaming industries.

The gross receipts of Macao's gaming and betting sector reached a record 46 billion patacas (575 million U.S. dollars) in 2005, a year-on-year rise of 9 percent.

Direct tax paid by the previous 17 casinos dominates over 70 percent of the government's yearly revenue.

The 18th casino was opened in Macao over the past week and the number is expected to reach 20 within the next few weeks.

Source: Xinhua