Kelvin Lam may step down as head of Transport Bureau: reports

Kelvin Lam, director of the Transport Bureau (DSAT), is expected to step down as his current appointment nears its end this month, Macao Daily News reported yesterday.

Speculation within civil service circles suggests he may be transferred to Macauport.

Lam was appointed as director of the DSAT on July 22, 2015, for a one-year term, as specified in Order No. 15/2009 by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, which emphasized his professional competence and qualifications for the role.

However, while the then Secretary, Raimundo do Rosário, acknowledged Lam’s qualifications, his résumé indicated that he had exclusively worked in civil aviation prior to his appointment.

He held positions such as senior technical officer and assistant director at the Civil Aviation Bureau (AACM), and later served as Director of the Airspace Planning Office.

Additionally, he became a Senior Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) in 2013 and chaired the ICAO Asia/Pacific Regional Aviation Security and Facilitation Working Group until July 2015.

Lam assumed office in 2015, and according to the Official Gazette (BO), his most recent renewal appointment was on July 22, 2023, for a one-year term, signed by Cheong Chui Ling, chief of the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, on May 29, 2024.

However, as of yesterday, no official information regarding Lam’s reappointment had been released.

The Macao Daily News reported that “the Transport Bureau, recently criticized in the ‘Audit Report on the Supervision of Special Taxi Services’ for inadequate regulation of special taxi issues, has faced rumors in civil service circles about its director, surnamed Lam, who has been in office for 10 years.”

The report also noted that “many speculate he may not retain his position this term and will have to step down. Having previously worked at the Civil Aviation Bureau, which oversees aviation, and the DSAT, which manages land transportation, his next role is rumored to be with Macauport, completing a full cycle across the sea, land, and air transportation sectors.”

Over the past few years, the DSAT has faced accusations of consistently acting against the public’s interests.

Among the criticisms, the Macau Buses and Public Transport Enthusiasts group stated on its Facebook page: “Achieving a situation where no road user – including pedestrians, drivers, and passengers – is dissatisfied is simply impossible.”

Recently, an audit report revealed that, with the tacit approval of the DSAT, Macau Radio Taxi Services Limited, which operates 300 special taxis, has consistently failed to meet the minimum operational vehicle requirements outlined in its contract.

This includes not meeting the daily minimum for two consecutive years, with one month each year falling short of the target. Even after the bureau “legally” relaxed the requirements, the company only met the standards for ten days out of nearly 800. Ultimately, the company avoided penalties and contract termination by relying on legal opinions provided by the authorities.

Following the release of the report highlighting criticisms of the DSAT’s inadequate oversight of public transportation services, Raymond Tam, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, assured that an internal investigation would be conducted. He emphasized the importance of accountability and the need for enhanced supervision and management.