Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council members urged the government to relax border restrictions and improve the accessibility of weather warnings during a regular closed-door meeting at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Seac Pai Van yesterday.
Council members Vong Vai Tin and Si Lai Kuan called for the need of further improvements in two areas of Macau’s typhoon emergency arrangements.
Vong noted that despite Macau’s less damage from recent typhoons due to improved public awareness, “difficult transportation” and “cars being flooded” remained critical problems that should be addressed to maintain the image and reputation of Macau’s tourism industry and government entities tasked with handling the matter. To tackle these problems, Vong suggested increasing the number of taxis and building more parking spaces on relatively high terrain, as well as providing typhoon warnings through various online messaging platforms and applications for tourists, making them more accessible.
Moreover, Si pointed out that due to the fact that the Macau-Zhuhai joint checkpoint in Hengqin currently suspends operations during the No.8 typhoon signal, residents and tourists could only leave the territory via the peninsula’s border checkpoints, which was made more difficult with the suspension of public transport services as long as the No.8 signal was hoisted.
To ensure the safety and well-being of tourists and residents and prepare for the operational start of the Macau New Neighbourhood (MNN) project in Hengqin, Si urged the government to revoke the current regulation of closing the Hengqin border during the No.8 signal, considering that the future Hengqin line of the Macau Light Rail Transit (LRT) will go through an underwater tunnel and that another Macau-Hengqin bridge will open soon. Si also reiterated the need to improve weather notification mechanisms for tourists.
Meanwhile, fellow council member U Chi Lek said he had noticed a discrepancy between the subjects offered at mainland universities and the entrance requirements for professions in Macau, thus hindering local graduates that have studied on the mainland from entering the local professional workforce. U suggested a more thorough understanding of course offerings and entry requirements for professional careers, and more internship opportunities to equip local staff with the necessary skills.
The government-appointed Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council holds a regular closed-door meeting at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Coloane’s Seac Pai Van public housing estate yesterday.
– Photo: Leong Ian Kio
