Talent cultivation top of Government agenda

Chief Executive Mr Chui Sai On said today the Government would put emphasis on the cultivation of local talents by adhering to the principle of "Building Macao with talented individuals". He disclosed this when he attended the plenary meeting of the Legislative Assembly where he answered questions from 30 legislators on his Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2014, which he delivered yesterday. The questions today ranged from policies on housing, lands, education, fiscal reserves, support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), protecting local employees' rights, food safety, taxation and youth affairs. In his blueprint for the next year, Mr Chui unveiled that talent cultivation to be one of the long-term mechanisms for effective administration. This mechanism should combine with the existing education system, and the Government would continuously optimise the development of non-tertiary and tertiary education, he said. All in all, by implementing these mechanisms more local talents would be cultivated to support the needs of Macao's sustainable development and diversification of its economy. The Chief Executive said a talent development committee directly under him would soon be set up, with members drawn from the community, education and human resource sectors. The Government would also roll out initiatives to attract local and oversea students to work in Macao, Mr Chui said. Meanwhile, the principle of ensuring the employment of local people first remains unchanged. He said by supportive policies, the Government would encourage companies to promote upward mobility of local employees; but employees should also better equip themselves. The Chief Executive stressed that the implementation of professional accreditation, which is the focal part of this talent cultivation mechanism, is also the direction of development of the whole society. It will advance the comphensive level of the people of Macao and push to develop a diversified economy. Housing policy attracted the most questions. Mr Chui said that in addition to the completion of 19,000 public housing units, some 6,300 more units are under construction; land has also been reserved in the newly reclaimed area for more public housing. Mr Chui disclosed that the Government has also started the process to recover 28 plots of land granted earlier to developers, but which are still lying vacant, with the view to use the regained plots for public housing in the future. Mr Chui said he also agreed with the idea of provident fund linked home ownership schemes in operation in the region, which he said could be of benefit to the community, but the Government would need time to study if it would be practical for Macao. He said public opinion would also be sought on this. Another most frequently asked question was for the support for SMEs. Mr Chui said SMEs were indispensable in pushing for a more diversified economy and that the Government was in favour of providing low-rent shops of adequate sizes in publish housing estates for the SMEs. Mr Chui also revealed that a business area had been set up for Macao SMEs in the marine-themed Chimelong Resort, which is under construction in Hengqin, Zhuhai. The Government would also put in resources to support Macao SMEs to operate there, he added.