Insight | One fading system?

Paulo Barbosa

1. Unfortunately, a lawmakers’ agenda doesn’t always coincide with the citizens concerns. Directly elected Ho Ion Sang, one of the main figures of the influential Macau General Union of the Neighborhood Associations (known as “Kai Fong” in Cantonese) said in the 2012 elections campaign that the overheating property market was one of the three major aspects of public concern, the others being economic diversification and responsible gaming.
Being coherent with his previous statements, Ho Ion Sang reiterated the consequences of the housing problem for many residents. He said this weekend that most of the local tenants are in an “unfavorable situation” since most landlords, sometimes advised by estate agents that resort to unethical tactics, only agree to short-term contracts. “The contracts are signed for one year and then the rent will rise by a very high extent. What we heard from the market is that tenants are on the disadvantage side,” he told TDM.
The fact that the rent increase ratio is not regulated (although the current law opens doors for such regulation) leads to irrational increases that families can’t and shouldn’t be asked to afford. The lawmaker is asking for new rules for the rental market. If that means setting a limit on rent increases, thumbs up for him. Such a measure is common in many countries and serves to protect tenants from arbitrary increases and ensure social stability. The matter was brought to the Legislative Assembly in a bill presented by Pereira Coutinho in 2013, who rightly spoke of “a social emergency situation.” Meanwhile nothing was done to address the situation, which worsens by the day.
2. Emily Lau, who is a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council (Legco) and leader Democratic Party, came to Macau on Saturday accompanied by friends. After arriving at the Macau Outer Harbor Ferry Terminal, she was barred from entering the territory.
The HK legislator was told by immigration officials that she was not allowed to enter Macau due to security concerns.
“This is ridiculous,” she commented to the South China Morning Post. “It sends a very wrong message to the people in both Macau and Hong Kong; that the ‘one country, two systems’ principle is fading.”
It is not the first time that the first woman to be directly elected into the Legco (in 1991) has been prevented from entering the region. That was the case in 2008, when the former journalist and other Democratic Party members (like Albert Ho) intended to take part in a protest organized by the New Macau Association on the sidelines of MSAR’s 9th anniversary, but were barred.
But this time Ms Lau states that she had no appointments with fellow politicians here and her visit was purely personal. “I only went to Macau with three of my friends to have some fun and to enjoy the food but the thing still ended up this way. I feel really angry,” she said (see our coverage on page 3).
In recent times, there have been too many cases of people prohibited from entering Macau, with the police always citing the Internal Security Law and security concerns.
The details leading to Emily Lau’s “blacklisting” are not clear. To explain other cases, the government said things like: “It’s up to the police to, according to the law, refuse entry to non-residents that are considered inadmissible or constitute a threat to the region’s peace, order and social stability.” Or: “During their stay the tourists must respect the local laws, abstaining from enrolling in activities that are not suitable with their status as tourists.”
But it’s difficult to understand what danger to society Emily Lau could present if she was coming here to enjoy a dinner with friends. To bar someone from entering a territory by citing security reasons is a very serious matter and much more so when the person is a lawmaker. Let’s imagine that Pereira Coutinho was prevented from entering Hong Kong for the same reasons – what would the local government think of that? To bar someone simply because he thinks differently is not healthy. In fact, it reminds me of totalitarianism.