Stanley Ho goes back to Macau for celebration
Casino tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun yesterday made his first outing since his admission to hospital four months ago, attending a ceremony for the 10th anniversary of Macau's handover, where he had a five-minute chat with President Hu Jintao .
Dressed in a suit and wearing a mask over his mouth, the white-haired 88-year-old, in a wheelchair, was escorted by his family and medical staff as he left the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital in Happy Valley to take a ferry ride to Macau at around 6am.
Accompanied by son Lawrence Ho Yau-lung and his third and fourth wives - Chan Un Chan (also known as Chan Yuen-chun) and Angela Leong On-kei, Ho arrived at the Macau Dome before the 10am ceremony. Ho and his family left at noon to return to the Hong Kong hospital.
During the ceremony, Leong and medical staff constantly talked to Ho and he listened attentively when Hu made his speech.
His wife, Leong, carefully removed a scarf covering his hands as he applauded Hu's speech. After the ceremony, Hu had a chat with Ho, who is undergoing speech therapy, a person close to the family said.
Hu praised the casino magnate as patriotic. Ho replied that Macau's future development relied on support from the motherland.
Speaking to reporters in Hong Kong after the Macau trip, Ho's other wife Chan said Hu also wished her husband a speedy recovery.
'His health is quite good and he was very happy and excited to meet President Hu today. They shook hands and chatted for about five minutes. The president wished him to get well soon,' Chan said.
'We have to push him [in a wheelchair], as he cannot walk for too long. The trip might be a bit tiring for him. We are still not sure when he can go home and it all depends on the doctors' decisions. Meeting the president might give him some encouragement to recover soon.'
In August, the casino tycoon was admitted to the intensive care unit after surgery to remove a blood clot on the brain.
Ho was first admitted to Hong Kong Adventist Hospital in Happy Valley where he had operations.
Ho's presence at yesterday's ceremony was vital, as he has a finger in almost every business pie in Macau and has, at times, accounted for half of its economy.
His empire includes 19 casinos, the two tallest Macau buildings, horse and dog-racing tracks, a jetfoil fleet, a helicopter service, five hotels and department stores, all in the 29 sq km former Portuguese enclave.
