The Executive Council has held a session to discuss and afterwards advised the Government to withdraw the “Welfare Package for Designated, Incumbent and Former Chief Executives and Principal Officials” bill.

The council advised the Government to withdraw the bill, in order to listen to public opinion and seek the broadest possible social consensus.

The council agrees that the bill is an integral part of the institutionalisation of the political system of the Macao Special Administrative Region. However, it was also concerned about differences of opinion in society over the bill, and considers the bill still has room for improvement.

To thoroughly listen to views from all sectors of society, and allow sufficient time for further study and analysis of the bill in order to seek the broadest possible social consensus, the Chief Executive, after listening to the opinion of the Executive Council, decided to withdraw the bill in accordance with the provision of Clause 1 of Article 110 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Assembly.

The Executive Council believes that thorough consultation is the foundation for achieving social consensus. It believes that, through the joint efforts of the Government, the Legislative Assembly and all sectors of society in adopting an open attitude to expression and in-depth analysis of views, the broadest social consensus can be sought to facilitate formulation of the system.