Hygiene issues concerning the Iao Hon district were discussed yesterday at the Legislative Assembly (AL) plenary meeting, with the government noting that it does not have a detailed schedule for the area’s renovation.
Lawmaker Zheng Anting pointed out that the environmental conditions of the Iao Hon area has seriously affected the health and safety of the neighborhood.
Zheng questioned the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário, about practical and feasible measures which his department will take to resolve Iao Hon’s hygiene problems, and the government’s schedule for renovating the area.
Replying to Zheng, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) representative, Lo Chi Kin, said that the bureau regularly conducts cleaning activities at the Iao Hon area, and that it has distributed publicity materials in many languages to improve the neighborhood’s awareness of hygiene.
Lo said that IACM will conduct remediation works at Macau’s markets and streets for the rest of the year, and added that the Health Bureau (SSM) has confirmed that trash piles have been found in several locations.
Zheng criticized Lo’s response for failing to set a concrete timeline and demonstrating a complacent attitude, which he denounced as portraying the problems as though they were already resolved.
Zheng said he wanted to know whether the Iao Hon area could be renovated, and if there were plans in place.
“I don’t have a timetable, and we are also not making such [a] plan,” replied Raimundo.
During the lawmakers’ inquiry session, Mak Soi Kun noted that “if you [the government] do not establish laws for mandatory building inspection, you [the government] can’t solve this problem. It [raises] an issue: you do not know about the renovation time [at Iao Hon]. However, if you don’t solve these problems in a short time, it becomes ironic, [because] Macau is so rich.”
Leong Veng Chai said that Iao Hon’s hygiene situation “will need a bit longer until it can be solved” and proposed that multiple government departments cooperate to clean up the Iao Hon area.
Si Ka Lon added that Macau must pass proper legislation on urban renewal, lest the city face lengthy renovation works.
Ho Ion Sang also noted that in recent years, Macau has “[lacked] substantive results regarding the renovation of Macau’s old areas, which leads everyone to be ‘mentally unbalanced’.”
Chan Iek Lap questioned whether IACM can contact the neighborhood directly to improve their community’s hygiene.
“Macau has already recorded three cases of dengue fever infection […] It will not be a surprise if there is a dengue fever outbreak at any time. We should consider improving our citizens’ obligations and paying [more] attention to the environment,” said Chan.
Kou Hoi In, Ma Chi Seng, Au Kam San, and Ng Kuok Cheong spoke out on the renovation of old areas and the hygiene situation at Iao Hon.
In his reply to all lawmakers’ inquiries, Raimundo said that “the topic [of renovation] is not easy to solve, because if it were, it would have been solved a long time ago.”
The Secretary said that he visited the Mercado de S. Lourenço area and claimed, “even I did not like what I saw.”
However, Raimundo continued, the government should not be the main party responsible for solving the area’s hygiene problems.
“[The issues] should be discussed by the building’s owners,” said Raimundo.
