No matter how fierce the storms of global economic instability are, Chief Executive Sam Hou-fai of the Macao Special Administrative Region has succeeded in laying down clear directions in his maiden Policy Address to leverage the unique advantages of Macao to help the city navigate to calmer waters.
The delivery of a policy blueprint provides the perfect opportunity for Sam to reassure the public that Macao will put their priorities first, cementing the close bond between the government and the public. As a visionary, Sam has a proper appreciation of the need to introduce administrative reforms to enhance governance effectiveness. Furthermore, he has his eyes on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and leveraging Macao’s position as a free port. Closer integration with Hengqin in Zhuhai shows that economic diversification is forefront in Sam’s mind. Lifting Macao’s global profile has not been neglected in the Policy Address.
To improve people’s livelihoods, Sam said he will strive to maintain the city’s low unemployment rate, and protecting the employment rights of local workers is a priority. Sam also said the government will expedite the construction of social housing and ensure reasonable arrangements for the supply of economic housing. The government also promised to improve medical services and the healthcare system. For instance, the Macao SAR government will optimize the functions of the Macao Medical Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
To support low-income families and disadvantaged individuals, Sam said he will boost the subsidy rates for various groups, including seniors and the disabled. He confirmed that the payments to be made under the 2025 Welfare Partaking Scheme would amount to 10,000 patacas ($1,251) for permanent residents and 6,000 patacas for temporary residents. The families with children who are younger than 3 years old will receive a subsidy of 1,500 patacas per month. And the marriage subsidy will increase to 2,220 patacas (with both spouses eligible to claim). We hope these measures address the problem of declining birth rates and support parenthood.
The pension and the old-age allowance will be raised, with pensions rising to 3,900 patacas per month, and the old-age allowance going up to 10,000 patacas per year. The Policy Address has also brought into focus the financial needs of underprivileged students in this prosperous city. The government will provide tuition-fee subsidies to students from families with financial difficulties, and continue to disburse various subsidies to eligible students and teaching staff.
There is great merit in Sam’s emphasis on the need to boost legislative and administrative efficiency in the city. According to Lei Ngan-leng, chairwoman of the Grand Thought Think Tank, the Macao SAR government should improve overall planning and coordination, enhance the efficiency of interdepartmental work, and streamline policy communication. In response, Sam has put much emphasis on administrative reforms in his Policy Address. He pointed out that enhancing coordination mechanisms is a key measure for the new administration to deepen administrative reform and improve governance capacity.
To be more specific, Sam said more cross-sector and interdepartmental coordination mechanisms should be established, promoting efficient collaboration across departments and enhancing overall coordination. Six leadership groups will be established to coordinate the advancement of major cross-sectoral affairs. One group is responsible for promoting the construction of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Sam has also supported the technological transformation of SMEs, promoting digitalization of these firms.
Nudging the city on to a sustainable path of economic diversification, Sam has established a working group to help Hengqin achieve its second phase of development. Another main goal of the Macao SAR is to promote closer economic integration between Macao and Hengqin. Sam stressed the need to study the legal issues preventing Macao and Hengqin from integrating more closely with each other. These include encouraging more of Macao’s businesses to establish themselves in Hengqin, increasing the number of Macao-registered vehicles using Hengqin Port, as well as increasing the number of checkpoints. Promoting cooperation between Macao and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area in specific sectors (e.g., science and technology, finance and tourism) can also increase the pace of the city’s integration into the Greater Bay Area.
Externally, Sam mentioned the role played by Macao as a “connector” between the Chinese mainland and Portuguese-speaking countries. Sam said he will develop Macao as a launchpad for Portuguese products entering the Greater Bay Area. He will also ensure Macao plays a connecting role as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. To that end, much more needs to be done to strengthen people-to-people exchanges.
Finally, it is worthy to note that the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has given full support to the Policy Address. In line with the “three expectations” and “four hopes” laid down by President Xi Jinping previously, the Policy Address demonstrates the reform and innovation, pragmatic responsibility, and proactive governance philosophy of the new Macao SAR government, according to a spokesperson of the HMAO.
Lei Wun-kong is the president of Association of Legal Promotion of Macao and senior consultant of the Chinese Dream Think Tank.
Kacee Ting Wong is a barrister, a part-time researcher of Shenzhen University Hong Kong and the Macao Basic Law Research Censer, chairman of Chinese Dream Think Tank, and a district councilor.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
