The evaluation of tenders for gaming operation concessions is expected to be completed in January, for every details of the tenders would be analyzed carefully said Chief Executive Edmund Ho today (12 Dec.).

Edmund Ho said that not only the number of tenders submitted is satisfying, but also the fact that bidders had included many international gaming operators and companies with capitals of different origins.

He also said that many bidders had proposed their investment plans in details and the government needed to analyze these plans carefully in order to find the best candidates for the three licenses, so the completion of analyzes would probably be completed in January in stead of the end of this year as originally planed.

He said that a more precise timetable would be worked out after the tender committee had finished with the preliminary examining of the 21 tenders.

Edmund Ho also said that the information provided by the bidders were enough for the Government to find out whether there are participation of Chinese companies, which have been banned by the Central Government from involving in gaming operation by all means.

Mean while, the Chief Executive made an administrative order today, which allows the merging, and restructuring of accepted bidders for gaming operation licenses. According to the administrative orders, any merging or restructuring could only be processed after the opening of all the tenders and be completed before the tender committee submits their evaluation report to the Chief Executive.

The Administrative Order also stipulated that all merging and restructuring could only be carried out with the permission of the tender committee.