The local government yesterday launched a public consultation on its proposal to streamline its administrative system for licensing or granting permits for various types of businesses, with the aim of making it easier for residents to launch and run a business.
The public consultation is running for 45 days until August 19.
The public consultation was announced during a press conference yesterday held at a Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) office in Nape. The public consultation document was uploaded onto a dedicated website (https://www.dsaj.gov.mo/rrdae/rrdaeIntro_tc.aspx) yesterday.
The government proposes to establish a new legal system to replace the current decree law on the matter promulgated in 1998, when Macau was still under temporary Portuguese administration.
According to the current system, businesses requiring the applications for a permit include hair salons, beauty salons, and gyms, while businesses requiring the applications for a licence include cinemas, snooker halls, bowling alleys, amusement arcades, internet cafes, saunas, massage parlours, karaoke bars, car repair workshops, and dry cleaners.
According to the consultation document, the government proposes certain businesses will no longer need to obtain a specific permit or licence, and those intending to run such businesses will merely need to complete the normal commercial registration, as long as the premises meet various other official regulations such as health and fire safety, including hair salons, bowling alleys, and saunas but without massage services.
The government proposes to relax the regulation of certain businesses which currently require a permit or licence so that those intending to run such businesses will only need to obtain a registration certificate, including beauty salons, gyms, dry cleaners, snooker halls, and car repair workshops which do not provide spray painting, welding, and the assembling and dissembling of lithium batteries.
According to the document, the government proposes that certain businesses will remain subject to the granting of a permit or licence, including cinemas, massage parlours, karaoke bars, amusement arcades, internet cafés, and car repair workshops providing spray painting, welding, and the assembling and dissembling of lithium batteries.
Moreover, the government also proposes to launch a new registration system for a business where individuals provide paid photography and filming services for others at tourist attractions, a type of business which is currently not subject to any official regulations. The document proposes that only local residents are eligible to register to run this type of business, with the aim of preventing non-locals’ illegal provision of such services.
A journalist takes photos of yesterday’s press conference at a Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) office in Nape. – Photo: DSAJ
