When Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng addressed a closed-door meeting with Macau members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yesterday about the government’s budget bill for next year, he stressed that the COVID-19 vaccination rate must increase in order to be able to revive the local tourism sector, the Government Information Bureau (GCS) said in a statement yesterday.
The meeting took place at the World Trade Centre.
The statement said Ho stressed that in order for the city’s economy to fully recover, a high inoculation rate is a must because it is a prerequisite for reviving Macau’s tourism industry, urging CPPCC members to support the government’s novel coronavirus control and pandemic measures and encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
According to the statement, CPPCC members Chui Sai Cheong, Lao Nga Wong, Suen Yan Kwong, Ho Ion Sang, Cheong Meng Seng and Vong Hin Fai discussed topics such as the General Plan for the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, plans to revitalise the city’s economy and schemes to support local small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The statement noted that businessman Liu Chak Wan, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC, pointed out that most local enterprises are small-and medium-sized, adding that it was difficult for them to diversify. He added that the government should guide them in the right direction in order to adapt to the city’s development plan. He also said that the government should limit the number of civil servants, urging public entities to hire only a “reasonable” number of people.
The statement also said that Ma Iao Lai, a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC, underlined that as Guangdong and Macau will be jointly administering the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the Macau government should recruit “influential experts” to take part in order to accelerate the process of consolidating the details of the plan.
The statement said that Ho thanked the attendees for voicing their opinions on next year’s proposed budget and vowed to announce more details about the General Plan for the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin as soon as possible. He said the plan makes it clear that the zone will be used for Macau to develop four types of “new industries” – scientific and technological research and the development and high-end manufacturing industries, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and other Macau brand industries, cultural tourism, exhibitions and trade, and modern financial services – in order to improve Macau’s competitiveness and economy.
The statement noted that 26 of the 37 Macau members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attended yesterday’s meeting.
The government’s 2022 budget bill will be presented by Ho to the Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) next month for debate and vote.
This photo provided by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) shows Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (centre, back) and Macau members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attending a meeting about next year’s proposed government budget at the Macau World Trade Centre yesterday.
