The chief executive of Macau, Edmund Ho, was in Singapore Friday for talks with officials from the city-state which is seeking a greater share of the region's gaming market.

During his two-day visit, Ho would meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

"While in Singapore, Mr Ho ( left ) will receive a briefing by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on the new developments in the economic and tourism sectors," the statement said.

Last year Singapore awarded bids for development of its first two casino complexes in a bid to attract more visitors including a S$5 billion (US$3.3 billion) complex on Marina Bay.

The government also awarded Genting International and Star Cruises, part of Malaysian conglomerate Genting Berhad, the bid to develop a second complex on Singapore's Sentosa island.

'Raised a red flag'

But in March, Genting said it would acquire Star Cruises' 25 percent stake in the project after Singapore sought clarification from Genting and Star Cruises about a tie-up with Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho.

The tie-up would have given him and a group of investors a 6.99 percent stake in Star Cruises. In return, Star and Genting International were to get stakes in a new boutique hotel and casino to be operated by Stanley Ho's Sociedad de Jogos de Macau.

The pro-government Straits Times in Singapore reported that the Macau deal "raised a red flag" with Singapore authorities.

Stanley Ho's 40-year monopoly on casinos in the former Portuguese colony ended in 2001.

Unlike casinos during his monopoly, the new venues in Macau offer more than just gambling, with family entertainment centres, theatres, bars and restaurants.