Speaking to the media yesterday when wrapping up his two-day trip to Macau, Kaohsiung Mayor Daniel Han Kuo-yu said his government hoped that Macau people suffering from serious illnesses would consider his city as an option when seeking medical treatment outside Macau, as medical technologies used in his city were “very excellent”.
Before departing for Shenzhen to continue his seven-day trip to the nation’s two special administrative regions and two mainland cities, Han answered questions from reporters at the Taipa Ferry Terminal.
Han and his delegation – comprising senior officials of his municipal government and some of the members of the Kaohsiung City Council – visited Hong Kong on Friday before arriving via the new delta bridge in Macau on Saturday. After leaving Macau yesterday, he travelled to Shenzhen. He will also visit Xiamen city in Fujian province before returning to Kaohsiung on Thursday. Han’s trip aims to boost economic cooperation and facilitate “emotional exchanges”.
Han, a rising star in Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party, made the suggestion about his city as a medical treatment option for Macau people when replying to a question from a reporter who asked him what Kaohsiung could learn from Macau in terms of economic development.
In his reply, Han noted that different cities should have their own development strategies in line with their own needs.
“Macau has its own development strategies while Kaohsiung also has its own development strategies. Anyway, we are amazed that Macau’s current GDP per capita ranks second in the world after having risen from US$10,000 or so to over HK$80,000 in the past two decades, and Kaohsiung will strive to catch up.
‘Amazing’ Macau
“In addition to the large increase in Macau people’s incomes, the way the Macau government is taking care of its residents also deserves respect. Basically all senior citizens aged at least 65 are being taken care of by the government and pupils’ tuition fees are covered by the government, which is amazing.
“All Macau friends have greeted us with passion. In addition to commercial cooperation, we have made many friends. We always hope that good friends in Macau will visit Kaohsiung more often in the future.
“We also know that some Macau people who are suffering from serious illnesses choose to receive medical treatment in Hong Kong or Guangzhou. We hope that Macau people [suffering from serious illnesses] will consider Kaohsiung as an option in the future when seeking medical treatment in another city.
“Kaohsiung’s medical technologies are very excellent and it only takes 90 minutes to fly to [Kaohsiung from Macau]. Macau residents can consider Kaohsiung as a city for the extension of health services that they receive. Kaohsiung people can make contributions to helping Macau people maintain their health. I believe that there will be many opportunities for cooperation on medical tourism between Kaohsiung and Macau in the future,” Han said.
Before departing for Shenzhen, Han and his delegation visited the Macau Jockey Club (MJC) and University of Macau’s (UM) campus on Hengqin Island.
Kaohsiung Mayor Daniel Han Kuo-yu (centre) speaks during a Q&A session with reporters at Taipa Ferry Terminal upon departure to Shenzhen yesterday.
Photo: Iong Tat Choi
This handout photo from Galaxy Entertainment Group’s (GEG) Public Relations Senior Vice President Buddy Lam Chi Seng’s social media account shows the gaming operator’s Deputy Chairman and CEO Francis Lui Yiu-tung (fifth from left) showing Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (third from right) a model of GEG’s Galaxy Macau integrated resort during Han’s visit to the property in Cotai on Saturday.
Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On (right) meets with Kaohsiung Mayor Daniel Han Kuo-yu at Government Headquarters on Saturday. Photo: GCS
Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macau Director Fu Ziying (right) shakes hands with Kaohsiung Mayor Daniel Han Kuo-yu during a dinner meeting at the New Bamboo Mansion on Penha Hill on Saturday. Courtesy Liaison Office
University of Macau (UM) Rector Song Yonghua (second from left) briefs Kaohsiung Mayor Daniel Han Kuo-yu (third from left) and his delegation about the public university on the UM campus yesterday. Photo UM
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