Insight | Giving way to demagogic demands

Paulo Barbosa

1. The Shanghai government recently introduced a scheme to attract foreign talent that will allow “high-level foreign professionals” to apply for a Shanghai Residence Card. As the Times reported, the scheme will allow some Hong Kong and Macau residents to apply for permanent residence and citizenship in Shanghai, provided that they surrender their Hong Kong and Macau ID cards to the authorities in the two special administrative regions.
In Macau we see the exact opposite being implemented over and over. Instead of implementing policies to attract the best job candidates, rational analysis gives way to demagogic pressures in protecting the jobs of Macau residents above all else. Competency is sidelined and the government seems to follow the emotive will of the populace. People are being fired because of the type of work visa they hold and their provenience. If an incompetent resident that got hired to fill the local quotas gets fired there is a risk of a demonstration in front of the Liaison Office. Companies complain of difficulties when hiring for managerial posts.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe that priority should be given to locals when hiring (although not in a way that makes the process impractical) and it is understandable that authorities may want to limit the growth in the number of people that live in Macau, given its size. The region is small and not fit to cope with the millions living here, like neighboring Zhuhai (around 1.5 million habitants) and Hong Kong (over 7 million).
But looking at the measures implemented to attract foreign talent in Shanghai and in other Chinese cities, we see that Macau is perhaps failing to fulfill its role as an international city. That is its historical role, as recognized by Beijing. Premier Li Keqiang said during his recent visit to Macau: “There is a multiculturalism in Macau, that can be seen in the mix between Chinese and Portuguese cultures. These multicultural characteristics are the thing that makes Macau singular. Macau is a very important place to China in terms of its openness to the exterior.”
If the above-mentioned demagogic trend is not corrected, Macau may suffer another “brain drain” like has happened several times during its recent history (when waves of Macanese migrated to Shanghai, Hong Kong or America). It is not only the young locals that graduate and don’t feel there is a place for them in this casino-driven economy. It is also the foreigners that work here in managerial positions who may be replaced just because they don’t hold the right card or background.

2. An old and absurd issue: apparently more importance is given to pandas than to the safety of our children in public spaces. The recent report by the Commission of Audit slams the management of leisure facilities by the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau. Some children’s playgrounds were actually falling apart and nothing was being done to address the issue.
However, there is no lack of resources for the pandas offered by the central government. It was announced that the twin panda cubs Jian Jian and Kang Kang lack space at the Giant Panda Pavilion in Seac Pai Van, so IACM announced that the pavilion would be expanded. Millions will be spent in superfluous works for all the pandas being exhibited.
With due respect to the sweet creatures, this is another example of choosing the wrong priorities.