The newly appointed chief of the Macau government’s think tank has pledged that it will come up with policies that are more “down to earth” by engaging in more intensive communication with residents.
Cheong Chok Man, who has been appointed as the director of the Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR), made the remarks while speaking to reporters after his swearing-in ceremony at Government Headquarters on Monday.
According to an executive order published in the Official Gazette (BO) last week, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng, who directly oversees the bureau, has appointed Cheong as its director for a one-year-term effective from March 15. Ho signed the executive order early this month.
Cheong succeeds Mi Jian whose two-year appointment was not renewed when it expired on August 31 last year. In the interim, Ung Hoi Ian, one of the bureau’s two deputy directors, was acting director.
Mi had headed the bureau since September 2018 when it was elevated from its predecessor the Policy Research Office (GEP).
Speaking to reporters after having been sworn in by Ho, Cheong said that his bureau will carry out two major tasks in the near future, namely formulating Macau’s second Five-Year Development Plan, and work enabling Macau to grasp the opportunities created by the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan – which will include promoting Macau’s participation in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Cheong said that he will urge his bureau’s officials to “go out of the office” more often and get in touch with grassroots residents, with the aim of formulating polices that are more “down to earth”, instead of only carrying out research in the office. Cheong noted that it is important that the findings of his bureau’s research will always lead to polices that are practical and feasible.
According to the executive order about his appointment, Cheong holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Economics from Wuhan University, and a doctoral degree in Economics from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou.
Cheong joined Macau’s Public Administration in 2000 when he worked initially as a civil servant providing administrative support for the former Economic Council, the predecessor of the Economic Development Council (CDE), a consultative body which was set up in 2007. Cheong started to work as an advisor to the Secretariat for Economy and Finance (GSEF) in 2001, before he became an advisor to the Chief Executive Office (GCE) in 2019, according to last week’s executive order.
A Government Information Bureau (GCS) statement on Monday pointed out that Cheong was tasked with public policy research and work related to regional cooperation during his posting to the Secretariat for Economy and Finance and the Chief Executive Office.
Newly-appointed Policy Research and Regional Development Bureau (DSEPDR) Director Cheong Chok Man (right) is sworn in by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (centre) at Government Headquarters on Monday, witnessed by the chief-of-cabinet of Ho’s office, Hoi Lai Fong. Photo: GCS
