Protesters urge gov’t to control housing prices

An Internet group called “Guarding Macau People” rallied for a protest two days ago, demanding that the government retrieve idle land and control the prices of private housing properties. The protest started at Tap Seac Square, where participants were given signs for their march towards the Government Headquarters.
One of the protestors told the media that she could not afford the housing in Macau, and could only live with her parents. Participants want the government to control the housing prices, and also ask for more affordable units for local residents in the future reclamation zones.
Ieong Man Teng, the convener of the event, said that they held the protest the day before the CE election in order to seek attention from the government.
However, they claimed that the turnout on that day was disappointing. Organizers initially estimated that around 2,000 people would join them, but they only got about 300 in the end.
The Public Security Police has put the number of protestors at 200.
Several of the protest leaders also belonged to the casino workers’ group Forefront of Macau Gaming.