Tony Fung gets Chinese backing for Aquis Great Barrier Reef casino

Plans for Tony Fung’s $8 billion Aquis Great Barrier Reef casino is finally a step closer to development.

This was after the Hong Kong-based gaming tycoon has reportedly sealed a deal with two Chinese groups—Tandellen and CCCC International Holding—which will provide development and financial backings to the project, The Australian reported.

Chinese state-owned group CCCC International Holdings first gained attention last year after reports of “deep links” to the Chinese ruling party as well as corruption allegations surfaced. It was revealed that the group was debarred in 2011 from participating in World Bank-financed projects following a corruption probe in a road project in the Philippines, in which CCCC subsidiary China Road and Bridge Corporation was involved.

In 2015, CCCC shelled out more than $1 billion to purchase the Leighton Holdings subsidiary of John Holland as part of its plan to diversify into residential and hotel investments as well as grow its engineering and construction projects, according to the report.