Cultural heritage councillor criticizes government for demolishing historical buildings

Cheang Kok Keong, member of the Cultural Heritage Council, has criticized top officials of Macau’s cultural affairs, saying that they are childish and ignore public opinion. The comments followed the demolition of a former drug rehabilitation center, which made room for new infectious disease buildings, according to a report by All About Macau.
“People use metaphors that allude to stubborn children. […] If the officials focus only on how to perform better in pursuit of merits while sacrificing everything in their way, then Macau’s cultural relics will face a disaster,” Cheang said.
Earlier, a banner reading “cultural relics killer Alexis Tam” appeared at the Hotel Estoril, hung on the external walls. Cheang considers that this represents the public’s strong opposition of the government’s demolition of cultural relics.
Cheang went on to state that a number of Macau’s government officials know little about Macau’s history, and that they do not have a deep affection for the territory.
“They want to continue their own rising, whereby they need to do something earth-shattering,” said Cheang.
Cheang, who also serves as the president of the Association for Macau Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection, worries that the city will only hand out history books to its visitors.  Staff reporter