Gov’t pledges accessible culture map

Authorities say they will work with Gaode Maps, also known as Amap, to develop an accessible map of cultural attractions and improve accessibility information for visitors and residents with disabilities.

Lawmakers Leong Hong Sai and Nick Lei addressed the slow pace of accessible environment construction and legislation in Macau, prompting Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture O Lam to say that lawmaking on accessible environments is scheduled to begin by the end of next year, backed by preliminary research from a commissioned professional body.

On Friday, O Lam told lawmakers she will push cross-department and cross-sector cooperation to strengthen support for people with hearing and visual impairments in public services, signaling that accessibility will be treated as a government-wide responsibility rather than the responsibility of a single bureau.

She also stressed that when it comes to barrier-free construction in private projects, close coordination with the public works bureau is essential, and that advancing such requirements through that channel will be more effective in the long term.

Responding to lawmaker Chao Ka Chon, O Lam addressed concerns about disability assessment certificate renewals. She clarified that subsidies and benefits remain unchanged during the renewal period. She also said renewals typically take three to four months, but pledged that the process will be accelerated next year with the rollout of a unified household registration system, which should simplify verification and data sharing.

In a related measure to improve accessibility awareness in the city, the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) launched in July an online Barrier-Free Access Guide detailing accessibility at nearly 150 attractions, ports, hotels, and venues across Macau, including facilities such as elevators and accessible restrooms. Meanwhile, in relation to Gaode, MGTO announced last month that it had partnered with the Chinese mapping giant to launch the “One-Click Smart Tour of Macau” platform.