Local think tank Collective Wisdom Policy Centre issued a statement on Wednesday urging the government to improve livelihood facilities in the peninsula’s Chi Lam Vai heritage walled village.
Chi Lam Vai (also known as Chi Lam Chuen – 茨林圍), known in Portuguese as Pátio do Espinho (“Courtyard of the Thorn”), is a 400-year-old walled village. It is situated just a street away from the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Na Tcha Temple – one of Macau’s two temples dedicated to the tutelary deity known in Mandarin as Nezha – and close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St Paul’s.
The statement noted that the government is currently carrying out the Pátio do Espinho Urban Space Study and Preliminary Conceptual Plan for Neighbourhood Planning, with the aim of achieving positive interaction between cultural heritage conservation and urban renewal through the optimisation and improvement of environmental space and the streetscape.
Lawmaker-cum-vice-president of the think tank, Leong Hong Sai, expressed his support for the initiative, the statement said, adding that he hopes the authorities will adopt the principles of “micro-renewal, prioritising conservation, and preserving individuality” as the direction for revitalisation, focusing on preserving the area’s traditional character.
Leong also advocated a people-orientated approach, with continued improvements to basic livelihood facilities within the village to achieve both community revitalisation and harmonious development of residents’ livelihoods, according to the statement.
The statement quoted Leong as saying that the village is one of the last remaining traditional walled villages in Macau.
Its enclosed layout, narrow alley proportions, the fabric of its old buildings, and the traces of neighbourhood life are all irreplaceable community memories and cultural assets, according to the statement. Any renovation must respect the original spatial context: the direction and width of alleys and lanes should be kept as they are, and buildings should primarily be reinforced, repaired, and partially replaced, with necessary interventions made only where structures are genuinely dangerous, the statement said, adding that wholesale demolition must be avoided so as not to damage the character of the World Heritage buffer zone or disrupt the community network. While preserving the fundamental character of the walled village, environmental quality can be enhanced through detailed improvements.
Meanwhile, Leong also pointed out that the village currently suffers from ageing water, electricity, and sewage networks, haphazardly laid water pipes, dilapidated meters and cables, and chaotic overhead antennas, the statement said.
The long-standing insufficient power supply means that air conditioners and rice cookers cannot be used at the same time during hot weather. Leong recommended that the government promptly conduct studies and planning to upgrade cables, replace wiring, and reduce safety hazards. He also urged improvements to fire rescue facilities and barrier-free access, with fire hydrants installed at appropriate locations to address the district’s shortcomings in fire safety. Livelihood-related work in the area - such as cleaning, mosquito control, and water and electricity provision - also urgently needs improvement, and disaster prevention measures must be properly planned, according to the statement.
As Chi Lam Vai has a relatively large elderly population, age-friendly facilities should be added, and vacant plots within the area should be put to good use to create community green spaces and small public cultural venues. He expressed hope that the village could serve as a starting point for resolving water and electricity problems in Macau’s other old quarters.
In addition, Leong urged the government to take the lead in cross-departmental improvements, tackling electricity, fire safety, and sanitation issues in the short term while promoting network replacement and disaster prevention infrastructure in the medium to long term – so that the village can continue as a safe and liveable traditional community.
Leong likewise recommended coordinating planning for the surrounding areas and organically linking the development of Chi Lam Vai with nearby districts such as the Ruins of St Paul’s. He suggested using the memories of walled-village life as a core IP (intellectual property) and regularly organising small-scale cultural activities - such as guided tours telling the stories of the walled village, handicraft markets, and community photography exhibitions. Through low-frequency but high-quality content, the aim would be to sustain the space’s ongoing appeal, avoiding a situation where, after a one-off renovation, the area is left to fall into silence.
This photo taken on Sunday shows a corner of Chi Lam Vai. – Photo: Armindo Neves
