Nowadays, especially when it comes to the response to the pandemic, everyone is in the business of judging the government (yours truly included). Fair enough, the government is supposed to serve us, the citizens, thus constructive criticism should be welcomed, even if eventually dismissed, as often officials are in a better position to balance between different interests (while individuals tend to look out for themselves).
Anyway, it is not like there are ratings on Yelp on the government’s performance, but going to any café around gives you an idea of the thoughts of the day. What is noticeable is that we tend to always criticise - as my father used to say, it’s only the negative elements that are worthy of news so that they can be addressed. Having said so, and perhaps it’s my naive positivity, we should show some appreciation for our officials, thus highlighting what we do best and which are worth preserving.
One clear piece of evidence of this are the good conditions provided by the Macau government for the quarantine (including choice of hotel with rooms bigger than a parking space) so much so that Hong Kong citizens going to mainland China prefer to quarantine in our city. And while we would favour a progressive bent towards a more liberal approach to the zero-COVID strategy, it is worth noting that Singapore, which has been trying to follow it, has been backtracking a few days after some requirements were lifted – vaccines aren’t bulletproof as seems evidenced by the recent passing of former US senior official Colin Powell from COVID-19 complications, despite having received the jabs.
Moreover, a population that has little understanding of the importance of vaccination will likely find it difficult to accept life with COVID-19 – what I found impressive was that the government recognises the shortcoming such as when our leader referred to the rate of vaccination as “shameful” (when comparing it to other areas in China).
Macau has been unique throughout the pandemic in that we’ve been living normally since late February 2020 – sure, our businesses suffered extensively due to the lack of tourism (and dependence thereupon), but some places aren’t even open for business. For those that started a new job in Portugal at the beginning of the pandemic, they didn’t get to meet their colleagues for at least half a year as they were sent home, many with reduced pay. Only now are people starting to return to the office in many Western countries.
While travelling is restarting in many places, since the middle of last year, Macau citizens were afforded 9.6 million square kilometres to meander – and travel they did in mainland China, and so did mainlanders flock to Macau often when the risk of COVID-19 transmissions was low (whether they spent as much in the region, that’s another matter). I recall being in Shenzhen in August and looking to Hong Kong anguished by the frustration of many friends about being confined to that region.
The improvements in terms of governance in Macau are palpable in other areas. I’m told the police show up in less than 5 minutes over a mere noise complaint, and bear in mind they’ve a lot more pressing matters ongoing. Fortunately, safety is not one of them – for instance, some find it astonishing that I park my bike and leave the keys in the ignition with the helmet on top (if the same was now to disappear, I’d point to the readers of this paper, were it not for their most likely repute). Such trust in the system is priceless, being the result of both the effectiveness of the police and the dissuasive element of the prosecution (there is little tolerance for illegalities).
Again, what I find surprising, given that many around the world complain about not being heard by their own governments, is that the Macau SAR one is actually responsive to reasonable criticism. I never forgot about a “first-come, first-serve” course enrolment, which resulted in people queuing outside from 2 a.m., given that the government is the only entity issuing the licences in question. Apparently, no one complained but yours truly - my point was that having people (literally, and I kid you not) camping outside a government office just doesn’t look good on us as a developed society. The policy was then changed to a lottery basis, irrespective of when you signed up.
Evidently, occasional situations lead to some dissatisfaction, such as the LRT or the new Taipa Ferry Terminal, both helping to make up for the lack of actual white elephants in Macau (we do have the pandas, which fortunately are not as costly). Both projects were inherited by this administration that seems keen on addressing them as evidenced by the attempt to repurpose it. Likely, some question the COVID-19 policies but comparatively we’re still better off. As I said, it is worth looking on the bright side of life!
* The author is a co-founder and partner of CA Lawyers
