Kapok | Five is five, not three

Eric Sautedé

The yearly plenary sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) — the “two meetings” 兩會 as colloquially referred to in Chinese — concluded just a week ago and with them we are set for new priorities in the coming year and the next five years, with the 13th five-year plan starting this year.
The general directions had been already introduced last year — even with a campy song about them — and the five — again — tenets of the plan had been delineated in order to achieve ‘medium-high’ GDP growth, now set at 6.5 percent for 2016. First, “innovation” is seen as the key driver of economic development in order to upscale China’s economic structure into a higher-quality growth pattern. Then “openness” is considered of utmost importance for China to become a major responsible stakeholder in world affairs, both politically and economically. Then, “green” development and the necessity to “balance” the economy in order to ensure greater evenness among rural and urban areas, and across different industries, are the two pillars of what would be called in Europe “sustainable development”. Finally, “inclusiveness” — understand social justice — is a full part of that developmental horizon.
Wrapping up the conclusions of the two meetings, Chief Executive Chui Sai On outlined five — again — paths for Macao to transform and “consolidate its unique position”.
First, Mr Chui insisted on the need to comply with the country’s constitution and the Basic Law. Honestly speaking, I am really starting to wonder what is meant by this oft-repeated mantra. Is it not already the case? And if not, in what regard is it not respected? We heard recently about concerns pertaining to the judicial system and possible issues with justice independence: could that be it? Or is it related to the fact that a union law has yet to be passed and is systemically rescheduled by navel-gazing businessmen-turned-legislators who now claim that possible “strikes” could impair even more our dwindling casino revenues? Or possibly, the fact that now some NPC members representing Macao are asking for the NPC to step up efforts on reviewing laws passed in Macao? From my own little understanding, when Mr Io Hong Meng, a Macao NPC delegate backed by the Kaifong, insists that “instead of just keeping the laws for records, the NPC Standing Committee should also […] start reviewing the laws enacted under Macao’s legislature”, I am not sure this is not in complete contradiction with the letter and spirit of the Basic Law. And does Mr Ho Iat Seng, the only NPC Standing committee member for Macao concur?
Then Mr Chui mainly stressed the economic aspects of the message, and especially the imperative to coordinate the city’s Five-Year Development Plan with the major policy direction of China and the pressing need to transform Macao into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and a cooperation platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Society was not forgotten: the social development of young people is to be supported and social welfare improved. And finally, all this could be achieved thanks to a more “effective” mode of governance, based on speedier administrative reform, additional thoroughness in anti-corruption efforts, as well as greater cooperation among administrative units. Clearly, transparency and accountability are not part of Mr Chui’s vocabulary.
Somehow, the “innovation”, “openness” and “balance” imperatives are there. The diversification of Macao’s mono-industry; the expansion to Hengqin and now the resurrection of the Pan-­Pearl River Delta 2003 vision; the realization that Macao has a unique role to play in connecting the Portuguese-speaking world with China; the expansion over 85 square kilometers of coastal waters as recently demarcated and possible development of a maritime economy; the stepping-up of quality education and the nurturing of local talents; the promotion of SMEs; etc.
What about “the inclusiveness” and the “greening”? What about developing real mean-tested social policies rather than oversized entitlements for residents? What about sanctuarizing Coloane, despite the petty interest of one CPPCC delegate? Five is five, not three.