Pereira Coutinho
Lawmaker José Pereira Coutinho believes that Sonia Chan Hoi Fan, currently serving as coordinator of the Office for Personal Data Protection (GPDP), will be appointed Secretary for Administration and Justice as a “reward” for handling procedures related to the referendum on universal suffrage that led to the detention of pro-democracy activists.
The newspaper “Ou Mun” released a possible list of the five new secretaries chosen by Chief Executive Chui Sai On for his second term. Sonia Chan Hoi Fan is reported to take Florinda Chan’s office, while businessman and member of the Executive Council, Lionel Leong, is likely to replace Francis Tam as Secretary for Economy and Finance.
The c urrent director of the Judiciary Police is due to be appointed Secretary for Security and Raimundo do Rosário, currently heading Macau’s representative office in Brussels, is likely to replace Lau Si Io as Secretary for Transport and Public Works. Finally, Alexis Tam, serving as the government’s spokesperson, will be the new Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture.
However, Chui Sai On is yet to make an official announcement and confirm the next top government officials’ names. In a press conference held yesterday, he said that there are procedures to be followed, and he’s still waiting for Beijing’s approval.
Last August, GPDP issued an order requesting for referendum organizers to stop collecting residents’ personal data, as they were allegedly violating the Personal Data Protection Act. Jason Chao, who was accused of aggravated disobedience, and four other referendum volunteers were detained.
José Pereira Coutinho hinted that this is no coincidence, and criticized the Chief Executive’s criteria to choose Sonia Chan Hoi Fan. “We don’t understand how a coordinator of a cabinet managed to make such a progression on [her] career ladder. It really seems as a reward for using data protection legislation [to stop] the unofficial referendum. I think this was a reward for this lady,” he told reporters on the sidelines of yesterday’s Legislative Assembly plenary meeting.
Nevertheless, Coutinho welcomed changes on the government’s team. “I think he [made a change] based on the argument that some of these officials have been in office for 15 years. I think this is the right approach. Because the Basic Law says that each CE is only entitled to serve for two terms, while other top officials may remain in office for 10 years. So I think the change is good,” he added.
On the contrary, lawmaker Melinda Chan thinks Sonia Chan’s possible promotion is not connected to the unofficial referendum case. She did not comment further and seemed confused about what referendum reporters were referring to.
She recalled that the five new secretaries have all been working as civil servants. “This is good for government workers (…) this also shows that government employees are being promoted. Also some have legal knowledge and I think this is good for Macau,” she said.
Lawmaker Chan Chak Mo sees government changes positively. Asked about Lionel Leong’s suitability for the Secretary for Economy and Finance post, he said that “he’s a businessman like Mr Francis Tam” and “he’s capable of analyzing what’s happening within the business community in Macau.” He added that Mr Leong has also worked with the mainland Chinese government for quite some time, and “he would be a good link with mainland China.”
Chan Chak Mo concluded by saying that “a change [in the government] is good, because if people stay in the same post for too long, they might take things for granted, so to speak.”
No Comments