Ma Chi Seng expresses support for the construction of controversial island

Ma Chi Seng has expressed support for the construction of a potential Ecological Island for the deposit of construction waste.

The lawmaker noted the facility is necessary for the development of Macau as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure and that the project has passed scrutiny from the central government, which he said is continuing to follow the project to ensure the scientific use of the marine waters.

Ma claimed the whole world is adopting similar solutions to improve the environment and balance urban development, noting the examples of the Japanese city of Naoshima, South Korea’s Nanjido, and Pulau Semakau in Singapore.

Moreover, the lawmaker emphasized the importance of ecological environment planning and creating a place that attracts tourists and provides residents with a comfortable natural environment.

“On the one hand, it can solve the waste problem, avoid the pressure of insufficient land resources in the future, and reduce the impact of onshore site selection on nearby residents,” he explained.

“Secondly, it can increase Macau’s limited and precious natural ecological environment resources and enrich Macau’s urban [environment]. Through ecological protection and landscape construction as an ecological and environmental protection education base, the public and students can experience nature in person and realize the importance of environmental protection, so that Macau’s development can be sustained,” he said.

Should the ecological survey teams conducting a feasibility survey of the project greenlight the construction of the ecological island, the government can continue to improve the protection of Macau’s natural ecology and cultural landscape, and build a low-carbon, high-quality, livable and tourist-friendly ecological environment for Macau, he added. RM