More expected to be paid this year | Gov’t spent MOP720m on office rents in 2015

The Financial Services Bureau director Long Kong Leong said that the government spent MOP720 million last year on rent for civil service offices. This information was provided to lawmaker Chan Meng Kam, following his written inquiry.
In total, there were 460 rental contracts signed between governmental departments and property owners. Long said that approximately 17 public service departments run all of their operations in rented spaces, and that the majority of the remaining departments are either partially or completely working in spaces that belong to the government.
Long claimed that the government takes a passive stance when negotiating with property owners, since ownerships change frequently and rents consequently tend to surge. If a department has to move to new offices, the ensuing renovations require more money.
Long also claimed that the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT), revealed areas around the Taipa Ferry Terminal have been proposed to house security forces.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance Lionel Leong said last year that the government expected to spend about one billion patacas in 2016 to pay rent for office spaces, a year-on-year rise of 38.6 percent.