The Government placed great importance on enhancing the livelihoods of Macao’s people and strived to allocate sufficient funds for implementing related policies and measures, said the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On.

Addressing on Wednesday (2 August) during the question-and-answer session at the Legislative Assembly, Mr Chui stressed the Government would not cut spending on social welfare, adding the Government was considering introducing a system to share budget surpluses with the Macao people.

The Government was steadfast in its policy vision of “Homes for all in a contented society”, namely by striving to increase the supply of public housing in order to satisfy demand for public housing units.

He said the Government spared no efforts in pushing forward the large-scale public housing projects planned for Avenida Wai Long in Taipa, Avenida de Venceslau de Morais on Macao peninsula, and in the west part of Taipa. These projects would contribute to boost the supply of public housing, he added.

Mr Chui announced that the Government would launch later this year a new round of applications for social housing units.

The Government was also working diligently on revising social housing-related legislation, in order to simplify application procedures and to speed up the social housing allocation process. Once the revision was completed, the Government would review the rules relevant to its home-ownership scheme for Macao residents.

The Chief Executive said the findings of a Government-commissioned research on Macao’s housing challenges were expected to be published in September. The research would serve as a reference point for the Government in formulating long-term public housing policy, including potentially creating a new category of public housing for young people, newly-weds and middle-class families.

The Government understood the challenges faced by young people when looking for a house, due to the rise in property prices and rentals. Nonetheless, taking into consideration that land was a precious resource in Macao, addressing the housing needs of those less well-off had been set as a Government priority, said Mr Chui.

During the Legislative Assembly session, Mr Chui also provided an update on the Government’s work regarding the urban renewal plan outlined in 2014. The Government planned to provide temporary housing for those affected by the redevelopment of the city’s old districts. Encouraging urban renewal would require amending relevant laws and regulations, as to provide tax incentives to encourage redevelopment projects and to lower the percentage of owners required to approve a building renovation project.

The Government already had agreed with a suggestion from the Urban Renewal Committee for setting up a Government-owned company to initiate urban renewal works; in that regard, a pilot scheme would be launched in the Northern District, said the Chief Executive.

Mr Chui also shared details about the Government’s plan to cope with challenges arising from an ageing society, adding the Government pledged to draft an inclusive strategy for people in different age groups.

Care for senior citizens should be jointly provided by family members, the general community and the Government, and should include policy support and allocation of enough resources, stated Mr Chui.

The Government had already earmarked land in the new urban reclamation areas for elderly nursing centres, he added.

During Wednesday’s session, Mr Chui answered a total of 30 questions from Legislative Assembly members, including public administration; the service quality of civil servants; continuing education; environmental protection; the reconstruction of the Sin Fong Garden building; development of electronic payment systems; and campaigns to promote healthy births and to increase the city’s birth rate.