The Government will hold several public sessions to collect opinions from residents on the proposal for the Five-Year Development Plan, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On.

The Government pays great attention to the opinions of the public regarding Macao’s first development blueprint, which covers a period from 2016 to 2020.

The Government is currently conducting a two-month long consultation on the proposal.

Mr Chui made the comments on Wednesday (11 May) ahead of a consultation session on the Five-Year Development Plan with members of the Chief Executive Election Committee.

During the consultation session, the Director of the Policy Research Office, Mr Lao Pun Lap, said the Government aimed to introduce a comprehensive approach to cross-departmental cooperation between public bodies, in order further to enhance the Government’s administrative performance.

Major goals of the Five-Year Development Plan include: to maintain Macao’s long-term sustainability; to protect the interests of the country; and to fully adhere to the principle “One country, two systems”, said Mr Lao.

The Government would continue to implement policies that contribute to improve the city’s economy and the livelihood of the people, Mr Lao added.

During the consultation session, several members of the Chief Executive Election Committee gave their opinion on the proposal for the Five-Year Development Plan. Opinions included suggestions for an annual review mechanism – under the yearly Policy Address – to assess the execution of the Five-Year Development Plan.

Some members said that the Government had been conservative when setting the goal for the weight of non-gaming offerings in the overal revenue mix of local resorts; some members said that the city’s six gaming operators should be able to achieve a higher percentage of revenue from non-gaming elements than suggested in the proposal for the Five-Year Development Plan.

Some members of the Committee also suggested that the Government should set up a body to monitor the development of Macao as a ‘smart city’ in terms of information technology.

Other topics raised during Wednesday’s session included: promoting rule of law; administrative reform; further development of the ‘e-Government’ platform, in reference to the offering of more online services by public bodies; provision of one-stop services by the Government; and the need to review the selection mechanism of members for the Government’s consultative bodies.

The Committee’s members additionally said that special attention should to be given to other areas, namely: land resources; urban infrastructure; housing policies; vehicle control; environmental protection; security and safety; cross-boundary contingency plans; nurturing of start-up businesses; youth entrepreneurship; development of the telecommunications sector; further development of Macao’s ‘specialised’ financial services; job protection; upward mobility for local employees; retirement policies; social security; enhanced services and support for people with physical disabilities; and the need to increase the availability of recreational areas in the city.

About 160 members of the Chief Executive Election Committee attended the consultation session, held at the Macao East Asian Games Dome.

Besides Wednesday’s session, the Committee for Development of the World Centre for Tourism and Leisure has held other seven consultation sessions on the proposal for the Five-Year Development Plan, including with: Macao’s delegates to the 12th National People’s Congress and to the 12th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; members of the Legislative Assembly; members of consultative bodies under the Secretary for Administration and Justice; and representatives of local associations.

The two-month long public consultation on the proposal for the Five-Year Development Plan runs until 30 June, inclusive.

Members of the public are welcome to contribute their opinions before the end of 30 June via the website of the Committee for Development of the World Centre for Tourism and Leisure (http://www.cccmtl.gov.mo/); or by email to: message@gep.gov.mo; or by post to: Post Office Box No.1201; or by telephone on +853 2882 3610; or by fax to +853 2882 3426; or in person (by prior appointment only) to representatives of the Policy Research Office at Rua do Desporto, No.185-195, Taipa, Macao.