Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, speaks to reporters.
The Government would press ahead with efforts to integrate gaming and non-gaming elements in the city’s tourism sector, as a way of furthering economic diversification and as a way of boosting – particularly in relation to the maritime economy – regional cooperation. The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, made these comments today at the sidelines of a reception to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). Mr Chui outlined to reporters the key aspects of work the Government is doing to sustain development of the gaming industry. They included: a close examination – making use of the mid-term review of Macao’s gaming concessions – of how to promote effectively a healthy development of the industry; and a continuous optimisation of gaming regulation. It was also the Government’s policy to look at how Macao’s integrated resorts were going about their role of advancing opportunities for local employees, including their upward or horizontal career development. Looking ahead, the Government is confident of achieving a balanced budget and in managing a modest public surplus in the coming year, stressed the Chief Executive. The public finances are stable, with 570 billion patacas of accumulated reserves and no public debt, Mr Chui said. He added that Macao had a well-established system for managing Macao’s fiscal reserve. The Government expected gross gaming revenue in 2016 would amount to 200 billion patacas, equivalent to an average of 16.6 billion patacas per month, he said. Mr Chui said there had been a significant growth in areas not related to gaming in 2013 and 2014, such as construction, financial services, hotel, wholesale, and food and beverage. Non-gaming features now accounted for 90 percent of offerings in newly open gaming resort projects, he added. The Government would continue to promote development of non-gaming attractions in gaming resorts, in order to meet the aspirations of the Central Government – as outlined by President Xi Jinping during his visit last December – for an adequate economic diversification of Macao and the city’s sustainable development, said Mr Chui. In addition, Mr Chui said the Government was prepared for its additional administrative roles arising from Macao’s new administrative map, namely in terms of regulations, trained professionals, and necessary equipment and facilities. The State Council has today promulgated a new administrative division map for the Macao SAR. According to the regulation, an area of 85 square kilometres of waters surrounding the SAR – and also the land area where the Border Gate with Zhuhai is located – comes under Macao’s management.