The first meeting of the Committee for Development of the World Centre for Tourism and Leisure.
The Government aims to transform Macao into an international city and to create more favourable conditions for living and working, and for transport, travel and entertainment. These are the major development goals for Macao in the coming five years, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, when he chaired on 3 November the first meeting of the Committee for Development of the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure. The Committee will assist the Government in transforming Macao into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure (an approach also known as the “Centre” policy). The Government’s medium-term plan is to help the “Centre” policy to achieve concrete results. To realise the Government’s overall vision for the city, the Chief Executive also outlined seven aspirations. These are: to maintain economic vitality; develop the structure of local industry; optimise infrastructure in pursuit of creating an international tourism city; to enhance local people’s quality of life; improve education quality; raise awareness on environmental protection; and strengthen the effectiveness of governance and boost the rule of law. These aspirations aim to help Macao manage its macroeconomic policy, and to strengthen the establishment of long-term mechanisms for delivery of education, social security, healthcare, housing and cultivation of local talent. Detailed proposals on delivery of these goals will be published in the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2016. The Committee will then set up a website and other relevant tools to collect public opinion. Mr Chui highlighted some of the specific outcomes sought via this approach. They include: to optimise further the planning of the city; to improve the city’s transportation network and quality of telecommunication services; to help boost emerging industries; to strengthen support for local small- and medium-sized enterprises; to encourage regional integration; to ensure employment priority for local residents; and to streamline the administration team for greater executive effectiveness. This five-year plan incorporates advice from the National Development and Reform Commission, from Tsinghua University in Beijing and from other agencies. It also takes the country’s five-year plans and other studies on the “Centre” policy as reference points in formulating future development. Members of the Committee for Development of the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure also present at the meeting included: the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Leong Vai Tac; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo Rosário; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Chief-of-Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture’s Office, Mr Lai Ieng Kit; the Government Spokesperson, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Policy Research Office, Mr Lau Pun Lap; advisors to the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Wu Kan and Ms Lei Ngan Leng; and the Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office, Mr Ung Hoi Ian. The Committee for Development of the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure was formed last week. It is responsible for drafting a blueprint for tourism development for the next five years. The Committee will conduct research and offer advice on policies to help transform Macao into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.