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Before COVID-19, Chinese investors turned Cambodia's sleepy seaside city of Sihanoukville [PRON: SEE-HA-NUK-VILLE] into a ‘round-the-clock gambling hotspot. But China’s economy has been grappling with a post-pandemic slowdown, and now the buildings by the beach — abandoned by Chinese investors — have become eyesores. More on this from Hul Reaksmey in Sihanoukville.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptCambodia Sihanoukville Image
HEADLINE: Cambodia’s Gambling Hotspot Reduced to 'Ghost Buildings'
TEASER: A 3-year global pandemic, a weakening Chinese economy and a government crackdown on gambling have left hundreds of Chinese-funded buildings empty in a once-sleepy resort area.
TWEET:
DATE: 08/13/2023 at 2:47 pm
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Hul Reaksmey Hul
DATELINE: Sihanoukville, Cambodia
CAMERAPERSON: Pin Sisovann
CONTRIBUTOR:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original
Script Editors: MAS, djones approved, Reifenrath
PLATFORMS:
TRT: 2:28
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:
((INTRO))
[[Before COVID-19, Chinese investors turned Cambodia's sleepy seaside city of Sihanoukville [PRON: SEE-HA-NUK-VILLE] into a ‘round-the-clock gambling hotspot. But China’s economy has been grappling with a post-pandemic slowdown, and now the buildings by the beach — abandoned by Chinese investors — have become eyesores. More on this from Hul Reaksmey in Sihanoukville. ]]
((NARRATOR))
Local people in Sihanoukville call them ghost buildings ... and there are hundreds … abandoned by Chinese investors after the pandemic and a Cambodian crackdown on gambling, even online betting.
Now many residents want the ruling Cambodian People's Party to bring the ghost buildings back to life. With Hun Manet taking over as prime minister from his father, Hun Sen, later this month, there’s a sense of a new era arriving.
[[FOR RADIO: Cheap Sotheary [PRON: CHEEB SO-THEE-REE ) is a coordinator for the ADHOC Cambodian human rights group in Sihanoukville))
((Cheap Sotheary, ADHOC Cambodian Human Rights Group (female, Khmer))
“The governor is frustrated seeing those buildings everywhere. Moss grows on them. He announced those buildings are eyesores marring the beauty of Sihanoukville.”
[[FOR RADIO: Chiep Phalla (PRON: CHEEB PUALA) is a construction contractor]]
((Chiep Phalla, Construction Contractor)) (in Khmer)
“I know many buildings are stuck without developers. I wish they would come back so we’d have jobs. Many of my workers are jobless.”
((NARRATOR))
Along Ochheuteal ((PRON: O-CHER-TEEL) Beach, even Cambodian tourists object to the high-rise ghost casinos.
((Ean Kree, [PRON: KREE], Tourist (in Khmer)))
“They should have finished them so that the city looks nice.”
((In Theany, [PRON: THEE-NEE IHN], Tourist)) (in Khmer)
“I wish they would come back to finish these high buildings, make them look clean. When they come back to invest, workers here will have jobs.”
((NARRATOR))
Provincial official Long Dimanche says there’s a master plan with tax incentives to attract new investors to make up for the loss of gambling revenue in Sihanoukville.
((Long Dimanche, Preah Sihanouk Province Deputy Governor)) (male in Khmer)
“When we cracked down on online gambling, lots of building construction stopped. Closing online gambling reduced a big part of the funding for investment.”
((NARRATOR))
But gambling brought more than money to Sihanoukville. Local people say it brought crime. They don’t want it to return.
[[FOR RADIO: Again, Cheap Sotheary of ADHOC Cambodian.
((Cheap Sotheary, ADHOC Cambodian Human Rights Group (female, in Khmer)))
“I requested the government consider not welcoming investment in casinos.”
((NARRATOR))
Many residents hope that if the new government revives the ghosts, it will also tackle crime.
((Long Dimanche, Preah Sihanouk Province Deputy Governor)) (male, in Khmer)
“I trust in the ability of new government, with the existing government, to help to clear the way so Cambodia and especially Sihanoukville can enjoy peace and stability both politically and economically.”
((For Hul Reaksmey in Sihanoukville, Chetra Chap, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Sihanoukville Cambodia
Embargo DateAugust 13, 2023 11:24 EDT
Byline
For Hul Reaksmey, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
