AL Plenary | Lawmakers show concern over air quality

Pollution was a topic in the spotlight at yesterday’s Legislative Assembly (AL) plenary meeting.

Chan Meng Kam was one of several lawmakers who raised the issue, stating that combating smog “was the priority among the topics to discuss at last month’s 14th Meeting of the Central Leadership Group for the Economic and Finance Affairs,” convened and led by Chinese Premier Xi Jinping.

“Air pollution is global and Macau is not an exception,” Chan reiterated. He urged the government to take steps to control and combat various forms of pollution; from waste treatment to the protection of forests and green spaces, as well as energy savings and the reduction of the number of vehicles on the road.
The lawmaker said the meeting with the Premier had led to a meaningful outcome and that the “[MSAR] government should absorb this spirit.”

Chan also tackled the topic of solid waste collection. A few years back, he said, a system of underground garbage collection had been set up in the Areia Preta neighborhood, but the measure was not widespread and yielded minimal results.

Ho Ion Sang addressed recent reports on complaints about “noise pollution,” particularly at night. The lawmaker presented data that showed a rising number of complaints among residents, expressing concerns over the authorities’ inability to address such issues in a timely fashion.

Ho remarked that the competences on the topic shared by the Public Security Police Force (PSP) and the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA) “lack clarity [which] leads to public dissatisfaction.” He suggested that the government clarify the roles of the different public services involved, so as to improve cooperation and create an effective prevention mechanism. Such a mechanism, Ho said, could start with a frequent inspection to “blackspot” locations, or the main sources of the environmental noise.

Tsui Wai Kuan expressed disapproval over the recent protests against the fee hike on several vehicle- and traffic-related services; namely, the removal of illegally parked vehicles and the fee for vehicle following inspection (to be performed when the vehicles fail to pass the normal inspection). These measures, according to both Tsui and the government, are intended to combat air pollution by reducing the number of vehicles on the road.

“At the AL, the criticism [of] the government for not being able to control the vehicles never ended,” said Tsui.

“But then, after they put into force a policy [people] immediately started the demonstrations and criticism and the trade-off of interests. So creative!” 

2015 budget execution report finally approved

Following its analysis by the Third Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly earlier this month, the 2015 Budget Execution Report was approved without much discussion. Due to the absence of the committee’s president, Cheang Chi Keong, the secretary of the committee presented the final conclusions. Mak Soi Kun referred to public criticism the low execution of some items, namely the Building Repair Fund. A Housing Bureau official replied that this was due to a lack of requests for repair from citizens. Mak urged the government to enforce a mandatory inspection of old buildings, which was unanimously approved by all 26 members in attendance.

Soares: Five vote against condolence motion

The AL plenary session opened with a motion for an official expression of condolence regarding the recent death of the former Portuguese President and Prime Minister Mário Soares, who passed away on January 7.

The proposal was made by lawmaker Pereira Coutinho, who highlighted the importance of the statesman in the recent history of Macau, including the handover and the establishment of the current good relations between China and Portugal, in which Macau was always involved.

Coutinho recalled not only Soares’ personal qualities but the opinions of Premier Xi Jinping and Chief Executive Chui Sai On on the occasion of his death.  He also commented on Soares’ decision to legalize around 50,000 people of Chinese ethnicity who had then been living illegally in the territory, considering the move a great “humanitarian gesture.”

The motion was then approved by 13 votes in favor, with five against and two abstentions.

The opponents included AL vice president Lam Heong Sang, as well as other lawmakers typically seen as belonging to a pro-Beijing wing.

On the sidelines of the plenary session, Pereira Coutinho said, “it is amazing that the vice president of the AL decided to vote against this proposal. But we know him and what he stands for.”

Coutinho expressed satisfaction that the proposal had gathered the support of the majority.