Cambodian Casino Town May Be the Future After Coronavirus
2020-04-06
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1When Kang Qiang looks out the window of his 20th floor office on the Cambodian coast, he sees heavy equipment used to create high-rise buildings.
2But there is no sign of anyone operating the construction equipment.
3Kang Qiang is the owner of a casino in the Cambodian city of Sihanoukville.
4For years, Chinese visitors and their money have supported his and other gaming businesses in the city.
5But now, Sihanoukville is facing problems.
6Travel restrictions designed to slow the coronavirus pandemic have worsened the effects of a ban last year on online gambling.
7But Kang believes there is a great future after the pandemic.
8He is waiting for the return of Chinese money to support the city's expansion.
9He is so sure he has added gold toilets to his casino's restrooms.
10"This city is just starting," says Kang, 60.
11"I love it. Sihanoukville gives you a feeling of freedom and no control."
12For Kang and others, the city is like the China of 20 or 30 years ago.
13It shows lots of promise and has none of the competition.
14Kang believes the economic problems resulting from the virus are not important.
15"China is huge; there will always be people interested in Sihanoukville," says 30-year-old Yin Hongsi from Chengdu.
16He finds people to work at one of the casinos.
17"You don't need to worry if the Chinese will come back," he said.
18Sihanoukville has a deep water port.
19It is part of the Chinese government's Belt and Road building initiative, which invests money in projects all around the world.
20In the next three years, Sihanoukville will hold the Southeast Asian Games and a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders.
21Chinese money is important to the economies of Southeast Asia.
22Cambodia has received a large amount of money for investment.
23Prime Minister Hun Sen is doing all he can to strengthen ties to China.
24In Sihanoukville, most of the money has been from private investors.
25Most of it has gone into about 70 casinos.
26All those businesses were ordered to close from April 1 to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
27The gambling industry has reshaped the city so much that some locals struggle to recognize it.
28Inside the casinos, there are lots of United States hundred-dollar notes.
29Outside, streets are dirty from the construction work, and people cross streets on pieces of wood.
30It is a situation known to anyone who has watched China's years of growth.
31"China speed," says Gavin Gao, a happy, young businessman from Chengdu.
32He believes he has a great future in town.
33"Sihanoukville is going at China speed ... Here is China 2.0!" he said.
34Cambodians have mixed feelings about the Chinese.
35They have brought money and jobs.
36But many have gone home because of the coronavirus.
37"People used to say 'Sihanoukville is the best'. There are Chinese and lots of money,'" said Siv Tia, who sells drinks in the market.
38"Now they say everyone in Sihanoukville has a big bank loan, he added.
39More than 20 people were killed in the collapse of a half-built Chinese-owned building last year.
40The collapse angered many Cambodians.
41So did the noise from the many building projects and the dirt in the streets.
42"The growth was just...too fast!" says Transport Minister Sun Chanthol. "Now things are slowing down."
43Those who have invested in Sihanoukville believe things will get better because China has, they believe, defeated the virus.
44"They got it under control," says 28-year old Bob Zhao from Shandong.
45He came to Sihanoukville looking for a job and became a salesman for a Chinese businessman.
46"In China, there are so many competitors," he said.
47"The opportunity here is better."
48Zhao explains his reasons for staying in Cambodia: it is a U.S. dollar-based economy, Hun Sen is close to China, and Cambodia's government is strong.
49"Our money is safe," he said.
50Yin works as a supervisor at a casino. He has been earning at least two times what he would in China by working in Sihanoukville.
51He says, however, that the Chinese money and investments have led to rising prices and other problems.
52Still, he noted, the Chinese money has helped the economy in what he sees as a forgotten country.
53"It seems like other countries are not interested in Cambodia, like America and Europe," he said. "China is interested."
54I'm Jill Robbins
1When Kang Qiang looks out the window of his 20th floor office on the Cambodian coast, he sees heavy equipment used to create high-rise buildings. But there is no sign of anyone operating the construction equipment. 2Kang Qiang is the owner of a casino in the Cambodian city of Sihanoukville. For years, Chinese visitors and their money have supported his and other gaming businesses in the city. But now, Sihanoukville is facing problems. Travel restrictions designed to slow the coronavirus pandemic have worsened the effects of a ban last year on online gambling. 3But Kang believes there is a great future after the pandemic. He is waiting for the return of Chinese money to support the city's expansion. He is so sure he has added gold toilets to his casino's restrooms. 4"This city is just starting," says Kang, 60. "I love it. Sihanoukville gives you a feeling of freedom and no control." 5For Kang and others, the city is like the China of 20 or 30 years ago. It shows lots of promise and has none of the competition. Kang believes the economic problems resulting from the virus are not important. 6"China is huge; there will always be people interested in Sihanoukville," says 30-year-old Yin Hongsi from Chengdu. He finds people to work at one of the casinos. "You don't need to worry if the Chinese will come back," he said. 7Sihanoukville has a deep water port. It is part of the Chinese government's Belt and Road building initiative, which invests money in projects all around the world. In the next three years, Sihanoukville will hold the Southeast Asian Games and a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders. 8Chinese money is important to the economies of Southeast Asia. Cambodia has received a large amount of money for investment. Prime Minister Hun Sen is doing all he can to strengthen ties to China. 9An expanding city 10In Sihanoukville, most of the money has been from private investors. Most of it has gone into about 70 casinos. All those businesses were ordered to close from April 1 to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 11The gambling industry has reshaped the city so much that some locals struggle to recognize it. 12Inside the casinos, there are lots of United States hundred-dollar notes. Outside, streets are dirty from the construction work, and people cross streets on pieces of wood. 13It is a situation known to anyone who has watched China's years of growth. 14"China speed," says Gavin Gao, a happy, young businessman from Chengdu. He believes he has a great future in town. 15"Sihanoukville is going at China speed ... Here is China 2.0!" he said. 16Cambodians have mixed feelings about the Chinese. They have brought money and jobs. But many have gone home because of the coronavirus. 17"People used to say 'Sihanoukville is the best'. There are Chinese and lots of money,'" said Siv Tia, who sells drinks in the market. "Now they say everyone in Sihanoukville has a big bank loan, he added. 18More than 20 people were killed in the collapse of a half-built Chinese-owned building last year. The collapse angered many Cambodians. So did the noise from the many building projects and the dirt in the streets. 19"The growth was just...too fast!" says Transport Minister Sun Chanthol. "Now things are slowing down." 20Virus fight 21Those who have invested in Sihanoukville believe things will get better because China has, they believe, defeated the virus. 22"They got it under control," says 28-year old Bob Zhao from Shandong. He came to Sihanoukville looking for a job and became a salesman for a Chinese businessman. 23"In China, there are so many competitors," he said. "The opportunity here is better." 24Zhao explains his reasons for staying in Cambodia: it is a U.S. dollar-based economy, Hun Sen is close to China, and Cambodia's government is strong. 25"Our money is safe," he said. 26Yin works as a supervisor at a casino. He has been earning at least two times what he would in China by working in Sihanoukville. He says, however, that the Chinese money and investments have led to rising prices and other problems. 27Still, he noted, the Chinese money has helped the economy in what he sees as a forgotten country. 28"It seems like other countries are not interested in Cambodia, like America and Europe," he said. "China is interested." 29I'm Jill Robbins 30The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 31________________________________________________________________ 32Words in This Story 33casino - n. a place where people go to gamble legally 34pandemic - n. a worldwide outbreak of disease 35gamble - v. to bet money on cards, horses or sports winners 36toilet - n. a device used to expel body fluids and solids 37initiative - n. a large action taken to change something