Grassroots lawmaker Antonio Ng Kuok Cheong said yesterday that all members of the city’s future non-political municipal organs should be elected directly by popular vote, adding that only directly-elected members would “automatically” reflect the public’s concerns and opinions.
Ng, a founding member of the grassroots New Macau Association (NMA), made the appeal during a meeting held by the association at its office about the possible setting-up of non-political municipal organs as stated in Macau Basic Law.
Article 95 of the Macau Basic Law states that “municipal organisations which are not organs of political power may be established in the Macau Special Administrative Region. Entrusted by the government of the region, they shall provide services in such fields as culture, recreation and environmental sanitation, and shall be consulted by the government of the region on the above mentioned affairs.” Article 96 states that “the functions, powers and structure of the municipal organisations shall be prescribed by law.”
