Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On said yesterday the government would need to study the reasons why local residents don’t appear to be as happy as one could expect them to be, abearing in mind that the city has enjoyed rapid economic development during the past decade.
Chui made the remarks when answering lawmaker-cum-civic leader Si Ka Lon’s question in a Q&A session in the legislature’s hemicycle yesterday.
In his question, Si said that local residents’ happiness did not appear to have increased proportionally in line with the city’s economic development in the past decade.
Si asked Chui whether the government planned to share the fruits of the city’s economic development with residents in a way that would be directly linked to Macau’s gross gaming revenues.
In response, Chui said that he agreed with Si’s view that the happiness of Macau people has possibly not reached the level that one should expect following the city’s rapid economic development in the past 10 years or so.
Chui said it would be worthwhile for the government’s Policy Research Centre (GEP) to study what residents feel unhappy about.Chui noted that Macau started its rapid economic development in 2003, adding that the government will need to carry out a review as to why local residents’ happiness does not appear to have increased correspondingly.
Chui also said the government was striving to diversify the city’s economy, such as by participating in regional economic cooperation, adding that he did not believe, however, that the percentage of non-gaming business activities in the economy will rise significantly in a short period of time.
Chui noted that the Macau Basic Law requires the government to use its financial means in strict accordance with the principle of keeping its expenditure within the limits of its revenues.
Article 105 of the Macau Basic Law states that the government “shall follow the principle of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenues in drawing up its budget, and strive to achieve a fiscal balance, avoid deficits and keep the budget commensurate with the growth rate of [the Macau Special Administrative Region’s] gross domestic product”.
Chui said the government would not consider sharing the fruits of the city’s economic growth by directly sharing a part of Macau’s gross gaming revenues with residents. He said that Si’s suggestion – directly sharing some gross gaming revenues with residents – would put the principle of balanced budgets at risk if the economy is bad.
Chui said that instead the government’s current practice was to share a part of its financial surplus with residents.Customarily, the chief executive attends three Q&A sessions in the legislature every year. Yesterday’s session was his second this year and last before next month’s direct and indirect legislative elections.
Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On told lawmakers yesterday the government would study the feasibility of accepting applications for social housing units on a regular basis.
Chui made the remarks when answering lawmaker-cum-civic leader Song Pek Kei’s question in a Q&A session in the legislature’s hemicycle yesterday.
Social rental housing is restricted to low-income households.
Social rental housing units are part of the government’s public housing programme which charges much lower rents than the private property market.
The public housing programme also includes subsidised home-ownership scheme (HOS) flats that are much cheaper than their counterparts in the private property market.
Currently, the government does not accept applications unless the construction of a new social housing estate has been completed.
Song asked Chui whether the government would consider accepting applications for social housing units on a regular basis.
In response, Chui said that the government would launch a new round of applications for social rental housing flats by the end of the year.
Chui also said the government was preparing an amendment bill to the current social housing regulations.
Chui added that for the amendment bill the government would study the possibility of accepting applications for social housing units on a regular basis.
Chui also said the government would release the results of a study about residents’ needs for public housing next month.
Chui also reaffirmed that the government will continue to provide public housing for underprivileged families first, as land resources in the city are scarce.
Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On addresses yesterday’s Q&A session in the legislature’s hemicycle.
