CE praises elderly workers as a symbol of Macau’s vitality 

Chief Executive (CE) Sam Hou Fai has described elderly residents who remain active and socially engaged as embodying the “Vibrant Macau” vision.

He recounted his decades-long relationship with his barber in a shop in an old district as an example of the city’s enduring neighborhood character.

In a recent blog post, Sam said he had been going to the same barbershop in an old district for more than 30 years, from his return from studying in Portugal through his time as a judge and as president of the Court of Final Appeal to his current role.

“For decades, his careful work has never been slapdash — that craftsman’s spirit is admirable,” he wrote.

Sam said the two talked constantly during haircuts, and the barber told him that government welfare for the elderly already covers his living expenses, but he continues working to lead a fuller life and because he is reluctant to leave his long-standing customers.

“Elderly residents remaining active and socially engaged is also the ‘Vibrant Macau’ we are glad to see,” Sam wrote, describing such residents as embodying the “productive aging” the government hopes to promote.

He said that while times keep moving forward and industries evolve, what remains unchanged is the plain, deeply rooted character of neighborhood businesses.

“This is a scene in Macau worth cherishing,” he wrote.

“I often visit this familiar old district to experience the warmth of old shops, to recall the past and look to the future.”

“Vibrant Macau” is one of four development visions set out in Macau’s Third Five-Year Plan for 2026-2030, alongside “Rule of Law,” “Cultural Macau” and “Happy Macau,” he concluded.