The government held a meeting yesterday to brief association representatives about Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, during which Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak underlined that the government will draw up the 2027 Policy Address in alignment with the tasks and goals scheduled for next year as listed in its 3rd Five-Year Plan.
The meeting, which was attended by about 60 representatives from 40 associations, was held at the Service Platform Complex for Commercial and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (aka Forum Macao Complex) in Sai Van.
The meeting was open to the media when Wong delivered his opening speech and officials under his portfolio gave presentations about the 3rd Five-Year Plan regarding the government’s administration and justice portfolio. Afterwards, the meeting was held behind closed doors while attendees gave their opinions and officials answered their questions.
The Macau government announced and published the final version of the 3rd Five-Year Plan on Tuesday last week.
The Macao Special Administrative Region’s (MSAR) 3rd Five-Year Plan, officially known as the 3rd Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development, covers the period between 2026 and 2030.
Delivering his speech, Wong noted that when hearing a work report from Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai in Beijing in December last year, President Xi Jinping raised clear requirements for the MSAR to proactively align with the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, ensure the effective implementation of its 3rd Five-Year Plan, uphold and improve its executive-led governance system, and enhance its governance effectiveness.
Wong underlined that the 3rd Five-Year Plan, which was announced last Tuesday, is a programmatic document and a master blueprint guiding the MSAR’s development over the next five years, directly bearing on residents’ well-being, industrial development, and Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability.
Wong said that the implementation of the 3rd Five-Year Plan requires the joint participation of all segments of Macau’s civil society. As an indispensable social force for the MSAR’s good governance, patriotic associations rooted at the grassroots level have long served as a vital bridge and link for the government to connect with Macau’s civil society and gather public opinion, he said.
Wong said that the government expects association representatives to offer constructive opinions by drawing upon their practical experience in serving the community, with the aim of helping the government accomplish the various key tasks listed in the 3rd Five-Year Plan.
Wong also said that Sam has required him and the other four policy secretaries to include the necessary initiatives and measures in their respective portfolios’ 2027 policy guidelines, aiming to ensure the effective implementation of the 3rd Five-Year Plan’s tasks and goals scheduled for next year.
Sam is slated to deliver his 2027 Policy Address in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle in November.
After Sam delivers his policy address for next year, his five policy secretaries are scheduled to present their respective portfolios’ policy guidelines to the legislature.
7 aspects of public admin reform
During yesterday’s meeting, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) Deputy Director Chan Chi Kin gave a presentation about the 3rd Five-Year Plan regarding the government’s initiative to deepen its public administration reform. The government will place a strong emphasis on seven major aspects, Chan said in his presentation.
The seven aspects comprise strengthening coordination between different public entities, advancing the restructuring of public entities, expanding and upgrading e-government platforms, reforming the civil service management system, fostering positive interaction between the government and civil society, improving the grassroots governance system, and optimising Macau’s oversight systems, including those for clean governance and audits.
Chan also pointed out that a new system will take effect in early October this year to standardise the practices for all public entities handling and replying to opinions and complaints from members of the public. He noted that under the system, public entities’ methods of handling public opinion will be linked with the results of their regular performance evaluations.
Chan noted that the new system will be equipped with a single platform for the public to give their opinions and make any complaints related to all public entities. Members of the public can use the new platform via their Macao One Account app, Chan noted, adding that the new system will enable the government to reply to residents’ enquiries more quickly and gather public opinion more effectively.
6 aspects of legal reform
During yesterday’s meeting, Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) Acting Director Ng Chi Kin gave a presentation about the 3rd Five-Year Plan regarding the government’s legal reform initiative. The government will place a strong emphasis on six major aspects, Ng said.
The six aspects comprise improving the legal system for safeguarding national security, facilitating the growth and expansion of local forces promoting patriotism and love for Macau, enhancing governance effectiveness, building a modern Macau based on the rule of law, strengthening the alignment of rules and mechanisms between Macau and Hengqin, and participating in the high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
Ng also said that the government plans to submit a bill amending the Administrative Procedures Code to the legislature within this year for debate and vote.
Ng underlined that the government is also working on drafting amendments to four other major codes: namely the Civil Litigation Code, Administrative Litigation Code, Penal Code, and Penal Litigation Code.
Sam hears views from more groups for 2027 Policy Address
Meanwhile, Sam held a meeting yesterday to listen to opinions concerning the drafting of his 2027 Policy Address from senior members of 16 think tanks and professional associations. He also held another meeting yesterday with representatives from associations in the fields of labour, social services, and those representing different Chinese communities in Macau, according to separate statements by the Macao Government Information Bureau (GCS).
During the two meetings, Sam underlined that the government will carefully assess the opinions of the representatives and incorporate the feasible and practical ones into his 2027 Policy Address.
Sam also vowed closer cooperation with various segments of civil society in jointly tackling the various challenges and risks affecting Macau.
Secretary for Administration and Justice Wong Sio Chak (centre) addresses yesterday’s meeting with association representatives about Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan at the Forum Macao Complex, flanked by officials comprising (from left to right) Secretariat for Administration and Justice advisor Wong Hong, Secretariat for Administration and Justice chief-of-cabinet Chang Cheong, Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ) Acting Director Ng Chi Kin, and Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) Deputy Director Chan Chi Kin. – Photo: GCS
About 60 representatives from 40 associations attend yesterday’s meeting at the Forum Macao Complex near Macau Tower. – Photo: Tony Wong
