Legislative Assembly | Macau has problematic traffic, say lawmakers

Several lawmakers expressed their concern for Macau’s traffic and transport problems during yesterday’ Legislative Assembly session, while others noted that tourism policies in the city were in need of a review.

With a speech titled “Do not let tour bus become bombs on roads”, lawmaker Agnes Lam mentioned the recent incident in which a tour bus crashed into a cafeteria, and recommended the introduction of new technologies.

According to Lam, in January this year, the government of South Korea started mandating the installation of the Automatic Emergency Braking and Lane Departure Warning Systems on all vehicles. The latter issues warning when the vehicle goes off lane, and the former is an assistive brake system, which is widely accepted in Japan, Russia, and the EU.

She also noted that measures should be in place against tired driving.

Ho Ion Sang also commented on the tour bus incident. He suggested the government narrow certain roadside planting areas where tour buses frequent.

At the recent incident, the door of the tour bus failed to open after the crash. Ho recommended requiring by law more emergency doors be added to heavy passenger vehicles.

Both Lam and Ho agreed that tougher fences or bumpers should be installed at black spots, to better protect pedestrians.

Lawmaker Wu Chou Kit pointed out the lack of design in Macau’s roads, quoting signage as an example. He said that messages on temporary signboards are usually illegible due to the size and choice of font. Such signage should also be placed at least 100m in advance in Chinese, English, and Portuguese.

Wu noted that there are locations in Macau where crossing facilities such as footbridge and underpass were built, but the government failed to “scientifically manage” the facility nearby. In many cases, several means of crossing facility overlap each other. Wu recommended the government to start with the simpler problems.

TOURISM VS DAILY LIFE

Lawmaker Ella Lei described what she termed a “deadlock” in Macau’s tourism. She said that as transport is becoming easier in the Greater Bay Area, more single-day tourists should be expected. They tend to utilize every second in Macau to visit as many spots as possible. Therefore, the Tourism Office’s strategies of adding new spots and diverting tourists have indeed failed.

Many of the tourists’ spots have become over crowded, she said, adding if no other strategies were taken, the deadlock might become permanent.

“The inconvenience caused to residents would not disappear even if they were told to be tolerant.” Lei said.

Zheng Anting reminded the government to think ahead and construct a multilayer road network to ease traffic congestions during peak hours. He also recommended the establishment of maritime passenger travel between Macau and Taipa, which would help ease road traffic and become another tourist attraction.

UNANIMOUS SUPPORT WITH SOME QUESTIONS

The agenda for yesterday’s plenary meeting of the Legislative Assembly was about the urgent amendment to the existing law forbidding the production, sale, and consumption of anesthetic and psychiatric substances.

Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said in his introduction speech that it was a United Nations requirement that an extra 21 substances be added to the law. Wong justified the need for the urgent procedure by reiterating Macau’s responsibility in conforming to international treaty. Also it was an act of adding new substances into the list of control substances inscribed in the law, without amendment to any other part of the law.

One of the substances being discussed, Fentanyl, is widely used by medical professionals as a painkiller.

According to Lawmaker Chan Iek Lap, who is a medical doctor himself, it works 50 times more effectively than morphine.

As it is obtainable at pharmacies, several lawmakers, including Agnes Lam, Leong Sun Iok, and Chan Iek Lap, expressed concerns about its easy accessibility.

In response, Secretary Wong noted that every member entity in the Anti-drug Committee would work to educate people about the 21 new substances. Also, considering the medical needs for Fentanyl, it will be available only under certain circumstances.

However, Wong cautioned he was not in the right position to comment on the topic because it was within the authority of the Health Bureau.

Wong also boasted that the black market price of substance is often two to three times more expensive in Macau than in Hong Kong, because his departments combat drugs with sufficient effort.

The law amendment was passed unanimously. Staff reporter