The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, has been holding a series of meetings with local associations and scholars to sound out their views on key topics prior to the Government’s Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2019.
By meeting various groups and drawing on the expertise of various sectors, Mr Chui hoped to formulate policies and measures that addressed issues of concern to the community. The opinions and suggestions gathered would be important reference points for the Policy Address.
In preparation for the Policy Address, Mr Chui met recently with representatives respectively from: the Macau Economic Association; the Macau Development Strategy Research Centre; the Macao Chamber of Commerce; the Macao Federation of Trade Unions; the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao; the Women's General Association of Macau; the Grand Thought Think Tank; and the Union of Macau Scholars.
A number of topics covering a wide range of issues were discussed during the meetings. They included: effort toward the overall advancement of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and how to support young people in that city cluster initiative; public housing; social welfare; care of the elderly; transportation; education; medical services; support for local small- and medium-sized enterprises; development of a system for disaster prevention and where necessary disaster mitigation; labour relations; and a system to coordinate part-time employment.
Regarding Macao’s planning for advancing the development of the Greater Bay Area, Mr Chui said the Government would step up effort to provide to young people – via public policy – more support in order to help them participate in the Greater Bay Area project and partner with people from other Greater Bay Area cities.
Mr Chui pointed out that the Central Government’s leading group for the development of the Greater Bay Area had reiterated major goals of the project included ensuring it brought benefits and happiness to the people. He added that this was also the Government’s aim regarding its Greater Bay Area work.
In response to opinion concerning Macao’s overall effort on disaster prevention or where necessary mitigation, Mr Chui stated the Government would establish a dedicated department to advance formulation of specific regulations. These would include specific building standards for infrastructure, to make sure such infrastructure could withstand any adverse conditions in the event of a public emergency.
Regarding social welfare, the Chief Executive said the upcoming Policy Address would review Macao’s overall economy to evaluate continuation of existing social welfare measures aimed at boosting economic development; and enhance the well-being of the community.
In relation to public housing, Mr Chui said the Government had some land in reserve, including from some undeveloped land concessions that had reverted to the Government, and from new land reclamation projects. The Government additionally had sound fiscal reserves and financial resources. These were all favourable conditions under which to press ahead with the policy of boosting the amount of public housing in Macao.