A bomb attack happened on Monday has triggered public security concern in Macao, a reminder of the enclave's gang-land image prior to its return to the motherland in 1999.

The explosion, going off at the branch office of a Hong Kong-based estate agency of Midland Reality, caused no casualty but recalled memory of the 1990s when residents were all too familiar with bombings and street fights among local gangs.

Jo Hong Meng, a senior community leader, told media Tuesday that Macao has seen a slide-down of crime rate since the hand-over and the bombing should clink vigilance bell for the law-enforcement agencies.

Jo, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as well, warned that the incident could be an indicator that violence is bouncing back.

Jo's assumption could be supported by another sabotage act taking place within one week on Aug. 31, when 17 motorcycles were set on fire in front of the Macao Cultural Center in downtown.

Kwan Tsui Hang, a member of Macao's Legislative Assembly, seemed to have a stronger concern over those incidents.

"It seems like public order is getting worse," she told Macao Post Daily, the single English newspaper in the special administrative region.

The law-maker said the bombing will possibly shed shadows on the city's fame as an international tourism destination and a casino Mecca.

The bomb blast happened at a sensitive moment when the Sept. 25 legislation election is nearing and the city is expecting a glorious show case of its hosting of the fourth East Asian Games in October.
 
Observers said the police can hardly be too wary and they have to improve intelligence operations and to strengthen anti-crime prevention measures.

However, the Monday bombing was merely among a handful of "high-degree crimes." Local analysts agree that the markedly improved public security situation has been one of the main features of Macao, a fact that has also been accepted by the international community.

Suen Kam Fai, a spokesman for the Judiciary Police, told XinhuaTuesday through telephone that the police are in hard bid to carryout the probe into the bombing.

The officer said the incident, an isolated case, will hopefully not to tarnish the city's image as a safe and attractive travel destination.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2005)