The Taipa Municipal Market has been gradually come into operation again since July last year after its three phases of renovation, but Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council Deputy Convener Ng Hong Kei quoted Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) officials as saying yesterday that “no improvement in business and customer flow has been seen there for the time being”.
The government-appointed council invited yesterday several IAM officials to brief its members during a regular meeting held at the Islands District Public Services Centre in Seac Pai Van public housing estate in Coloane about several IAM renovation projects of municipal markets, including the one in Taipa, as well as those in Patane and Horta da Mitra in the peninsula. Ng made the remarks during a press briefing after the council’s closed-door meeting with the officials.
According to Ng, the first phase of the Taipa Municipal Market renovation commenced in October 2022 and ended in July last year, while the second and third phases were completed in October and December last year. The project included the optimisation of drainage and the adjustment of the layout of the booths, focusing on the optimisation of the business environment. It also relocated the pork, fish, frozen meat and chilled food booths to the ground floor.
Ng said that during the meeting, his fellow members expressed their expectations of prolonging the market’s opening hours and adding a variety of products, in consideration of the increasing number of double-income families in Taipa.
The Taipa Municipal Market is located in a tourist area, and its positioning “may be a bit different” to that of other districts, Ng pointed out, quoting the officials as saying that the bureau would take into account and complement Macau’s social and tourism development in the hope of introducing other services, aiming that not only residents but also tourists would be attracted to spend money there.
The Taipa and Coloane Community Service Consultative Council’s deputy convener Ng Hong Kei (left) and member Li Yongjian look on during a press briefing after yesterday’s regular closed-door meeting at the Seac Pai Van Community Integrated Building in Coloane. – Photo: Yuki Lei
Civic leaders urge govt to rationalise MJC site
The council’s deputy convener Ng Hong Kei and Kelvin Tan Hai Ching urged the government yesterday to “rationalise” the about 450,000-square metre site of the soon-to-be defunct Macau Jockey Club in Taipa.
The government announced early this year the discontinuation of the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) which will take effect on April 1 this year, noting that the MJC site will be allocated to Macau’s land reservation system after the operator returns it to the government after March 3, 2025.
During the regular meeting, Ng said that as there are already some facilities in the MJC, it was suggested that the relevant entities work with the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) to study the feasibility of designating part of the existing facilities as a horse racing museum and exhibition hall in the short term, while also studying the feasibility of allocating part of the site for the transformation of an art exhibition and performance space in the medium term, creating a cultural, sport and arts district.
Ng also suggested the government study the feasibility of building a low-density science and innovation centre on part of the site to support the development of high-tech, cultural, tourism and convention and exhibition industry, providing some of Macau’s four new key industries with carriers and space for their development.
In consideration of the 15th National Games which will be co-hosted by Hong Kong, Macau and the mainland in 2025, Tan suggested the government temporarily convert the MJC site into accommodation facilities and a training venue for the competition’s athletes and staff, providing support to the competition, while also opening up a new path for Macau’s socio-economic development.
