One of the world's tallest towers opened to visitors in Macao on Thursday to mark the second anniversary of its handover to China from Portuguese rule.

The 338-metre Macao Tower features a revolving restaurant and observation decks. An adjacent complex houses a convention and exhibition center, underground shopping and several restaurants.

Casino mogul Stanley Ho, managing director of Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macao (STDM), described the tower as a proof of his company's continuing commitment to Macao's development.

Ho was cited by the South China Morning Post as saying it was a "towering example" of his gaming company's contribution to the enclave, which returned to Chinese rule on December 20, 1999.

Construction of the tower started in June 1998 and was originally set to open on the eve of the handover, but a host of construction problems forced STDM to delay the opening several times.

The tower was estimated to cost some one billion patacas (US$128 million) to build.

STDM monopoly of Macao's casino industry ends this year, and is hotly tipped to secure one of the three licenses up for grabs next year.

The company returned US$4.93 billion, or 31.8 percent of its takings, to the government in monopoly franchise taxes last year.

(People’s Daily December 21, 2001)