<continue from Page 1>

Although business is not as good as before, Lee is not going to give up his career. "I love my job; it gives me satisfaction when I chat with tourists," said Lee. "And sometimes I even think I am an ambassador of Macau." When tourists step into pedicabs and are taken around to Macau's World Heritage sites, they will talk with the drivers and ask them questions. Very often, the drivers will tell them interesting local stories, and these stories are often of Macau's past glory and history.

Sadly, we might not be able to hear these wonderful stories from pedicab drivers for long. Most probably this form of transportation will be gone in 10 to 15 years. The booming economy of Macau and the need for faster and better transportation are slowly taking away the spotlight from these pedicabs.

However, there are many people, just like Ng Tin Wan, who still believe that there is hope for pedicabs.

Ng, also in his late 60's, entered the pedicab business in 1955, when he was 20 years old. "I won't give up easily," said Ng. "This is my life!" According to Ng, when he first started his job, the pedicab was the first career choice for many young people because it did not require high education. "It was just like working as dealers nowadays," Ng added.

The pedicab drivers formed the Macao Pedicab Drivers Union in the late 1950's. And the best years for them were in the 1960's after Casino Lisboa was opened.

These tricycles, which were once a very important means of transportation in many parts of Asia, now have vanished. However, in Macau you can still see them on the streets, but they are just part of tourist attractions. Today, there are about 40 to 50 pedicab drivers and most of them are old people, according to Ng.

"We should not forget the past and what makes Macau so unique," Ng added. "We need to cherish and respect our culture, the culture of Macau, and the pedicab is part of it."

<END>