The Government will speed up the establishment of long-term mechanisms for an effective administration, promote the development of a diversified economy and enhance public administration performance in the coming year. This was disclosed today by the Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On in his annual policy address, for the Fiscal Year 2014, entitled "Enhance underlying strength‧Promote sustainable development". Speaking at the Legislative Assembly to announce his policy blueprint, the Chief Executive also announced a string of measures to increase the distribution of the fruits of the economic development to the people of Macao in the Fiscal Year starting January 1, 2014. These include an additional injection of 7,000 patacas into each account in the Central Provident Fund for each eligible citizen; permanent residents will also get 9,000 patacas and non-permanent residents 5,400 patacas in the Wealth Partaking Scheme. Permanent residents will also get 600 patacas in healthcare vouchers: permanent residents aged 15 and above will get up to 6,000 patacas in the three-year Continuing Education Programme. For the elderly, they will each get 7,000 patacas in their old age allowance per year, plus 3,000 patacas per month. The electricity subsidy for each residential unit will continue at 200 patacas per month. All Macao residents will enjoy the first 3,500 patacas tax waiver in property estate tax. Macao permanent residents buying their first homes will get a stamp duty waiver on the first three million patacas of a property's value. The Government will disburse an extra month's full general subsidy to eligible families receiving financial assistance and to extend to 10 weeks for each implementation of the Short-term Food Assistance Programme; upward adjustment of the income ceiling to 1.8 times the minimum subsistence index; provision of one-off food assistance to families receiving food assistance for the first time. To foster care for the physically challenged, the disability gratuity will go up to 7,000 patacas per year for ordinary level, and to 14,000 patacas for the special level. For students, the Government will continue to provide allowances to those in tertiary and non-tertiary education institutions, and to those from financially-challenged families. For the employed and middle-income group, they will get a 30 percent reduction in their personal income tax with the basic allowance set at 144,000 patacas; a 60 percent rebate of the personal income tax paid by each Macao resident, subject to a ceiling of 12,000 patacas. Those eligible will receive their rebates in 2015. Mr Chui highlighted the importance of the four long-term effective mechanisms to enhance well-being of society, namely education, social security, medical and health and housing. On education, Mr Chui said talent cultivation is important to the sustainable development of Macao, and the Government would consider launching the "Elite Cultivation Programme", "Expert Incentive Programme" and "Applied Talents Promotion Programme" in the year. Moreover, a vocational education centre and a language training centre in Seac Pai Van on Coloane are to be constructed and expected to commence operations in 2016. On social security, the Government will conduct a public consultation on the voluntary central provident fund scheme; formulate framework policy for the retirement protection system, develop a ten-year action plan for the development of services for the elderly in 2016-2025, and accelerate the expansion of existing homes for the elderly and the construction of new ones. On medical and health, the bill on Legal System for Resolving Disputes in Medical Incidents has already been submitted to the legislative Assembly for deliberation; plan to set up a dedicated healthcare services zone for the elderly at all health centres in Macao; provide 24-hour outpatient and an elderly services zone at the newly completed Emergency Care Building of the Conde S. Januario Hospital; strengthen law enforcement on smoking control in casinos and other entertainment establishments. On housing, Mr Chui said the Government would start the construction of the "post-19,000 units" public housing in the year, continue to increase land reserves for public housing development, and reserve land for residential use in the new reclamation areas; commence public consultation in the coming year to explore the supply of new buildings under the principle of "Macao property for Macao residents". The Chief Executive also mentioned several methods to develop a more diversified economy. On support development of industries, the Government will launch the new international convention and professional exhibition support scheme and the new website development subsidy scheme for SMEs, and continue to implement the scheme to support operations of long-established and unique small or medium-sized restaurants. He said that a cultural industry fund is already established to provide support to local cultural and creative talented individuals. On enhancing regional co-operation, the first phase of the new Guangdong-Macao border-crossing project will commence and new customs clearance arrangements are being explored. The Government will also provide training for the people in the Portuguese-speaking countries to affirm Macao's role as a trading service platform for China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Chief Executive pledged to build a more livable city by improving environmental protection, transport, telecommunication, and public security. He also said that in next year the Government would enhance public administration performance by raising operational efficiency and effectiveness; deepen and improve performance assessment for department heads, and consider establishing a special committee to co-ordinate and supervise the related work.
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