Macau’s Chief Executive unveiled his new cabinet lineup yesterday, confirming all the names of principal officials that had previously been released by local media over the past few weeks. Meanwhile, the new Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Lionel Leong, admitted that the decline in the city’s gaming revenue might affect the MSAR’s economic structure.
In a press conference held yesterday, Lionel Leong professed that his office’s priorities hinge on three main strategies, namely ensuring economic stability, developing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as ensuring employment for local residents.
As Macau’s casino revenues have declined for a sixth consecutive month in November, the Secretary said that ensuring economic stability is one of his cabinet’s main priorities. “Macau’s economy faces a new challenge, as gaming revenue dropped due to the external economic outlook. We need to be cautious and optimistic (…) we need to pay attention to the gaming revenue drop, and consider whether it will impact Macau’s economic structure, or if it affects SME development or the employment situation of Macau residents,” he acknowledged.
Moreover, Mr Leong said that the renewal of current gaming concessions, which the government is set to start discussing next year, “is very important.”
The Secretary acknowledged that the very important task of revising current gaming concession contracts is one that will remain entirely in his hands. “Upon taking office one of our main tasks will be analyzing current gaming concessions; we will have to reflect upon what has been done so far, and also review other matters such as the non-gaming component,” he said.
He hinted that casino resorts’ non-gaming offerings will be taken into consideration when revising current gaming licenses. “We need to study policies, such as ensuring that Macau is seen as an exhibition and convention center. Such assessment is a very important element and crucial groundwork to renew gaming concession contracts,” he stressed.
Mr Leong did not disclose further details on gaming concession renewal, namely regarding the role that current Secretary Francis Tam may play throughout negotiations with operators.
Officially unveiling his new cabinet lineup yesterday, Chui Sai On admitted to government failures throughout his first term. He recognized that, at times, the administration failed to meet residents’ expectations. “But we have done out best to fulfill our duties and serve Macau,” he stated.
Sonia Chan Hoi Fan, currently serving as director of the Office for Personal Data Protection (GPDP), will be the new Secretary for Administration and Justice, replacing Florinda Chan.
Asked if she already has a plan in place for Macau’s political development, Sonia Chan said that she does not have “a concrete proposal” at the moment, as she believes it is imperative to learn more about her cabinet’s portfolio first.
As soon as her name surfaced as the possible new Secretary for Administration and Justice, some questioned whether she was being rewarded for her handling of the unofficial referendum on universal suffrage.
Responding to these allegations, Ms Chan yesterday said that she has always remained loyal to her duties in each post she has held.
Last August, GPDP issued an order requesting referendum organizers to stop collecting residents’ personal data, as they were allegedly violating the Personal Data Protection Act. Jason Chao, who was accused of aggravated disobedience, as well as four other referendum volunteers were detained.
Ms Chan stressed that her team will be working toward achieving the long-awaited goal of legal and administrative reform.
Moving from justice to legal affairs, currently serving as director of the Legal Affairs Bureau, André Cheong will be appointed head of the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC). Mr Cheong recognized how complex a task it is to uncover all corruption related cases, but he assured the public that his team will work toward meeting society’s demands within the current legal framework.
Meanwhile, current government spokesperson and head of the Chief Executive’s office, Alexis Tam, has been appointed new Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture. He has guaranteed that the next five years “will be the most glorious years” for the city’s medical system.
Mr Tam said he has a thorough knowledge of his new cabinet’s portfolio, namely in the domains of social and cultural affairs. He acknowledged that Macau’s health system has been subject to severe criticism and that citizens lack access to healthcare. “Thereby, although I haven’t assumed office as Secretary, I’ve already laid out a plan of deployment for related work, especially for the construction of the new hospital in Cotai and medical reform,” he said.
The new Secretary confidently pledged to help build a good medical system. “I’ve told my colleagues that although the term is short, we can achieve a lot,” he stated, adding that he has found a consultant for his cabinet “to help plan and build new hospitals.”
Mr Tam also vowed to build an effective medical personnel-training system to ensure the new hospital’s efficient operation in the coming years.
Finally, currently heading Macau’s representation to the European Union, Raimundo do Rosário will be taking office as Secretary for Transport and Public Works, replacing Lau Si Io. For many, his name came as a surprise.
Asked about matters that are currently of great concern to Macau’s population, such improvement of the city’s chaotic traffic conditions, the new Secretary recognized that as he is yet to learn more about his department’s portfolio he will therefore provide more insights on his policies later on.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that housing and public transportation are among locals’ greatest concerns, and pledged to try to solve problems affecting people on a daily basis.
The new government is set to take office later this month. Brook Yang & Catarina Pinto
Gov’t ponders regulations for top officials’ term limits
Macau’s leader said the government is considering laying down regulations establishing how many years principal officials may remain in office. “We have been pondering if there’s a need [to launch] regulations governing the appointment of principal officials, so that it could work as a reference for other coming government teams taking office,” he said. Chui Sai On recalled that the Basic Law is clear when it states that each Chief Executive is only allowed to remain in office for two consecutive terms. However, Macau laws do not specify the length of term of office for secretaries.
Victor Chan pledges to improve Gov’t PR
The current head of the Government Information Bureau (GCS), Victor Chan, will be serving as government spokesperson as Chui Sai On starts a new term later this month, replacing Alexis Tam. Mr Chan said yesterday that he will be working toward improving the government spokesperson service to “enhance information disclosure efficiency.” He recalled that the role was created by Chui Sai On five years ago, and that although “it works reasonably,” his team will be stepping efforts to optimize the service. Mr Chan also pledged to address the matter of personnel training in the area of public relations. Meanwhile, U Man Fong has been appointed government deputy spokesperson.
The Chief Executive also announced that Ms O Lam, who is currently serving as the secretary-general of the Executive Council, will be heading his cabinet. Tam Ka Wa and Loi I Man will retain their roles as personal assistant to the CE and press officer respectively.
Wong Sio Chak: ‘I don’t agree with seeing me as a hawk’
The current director of Macau’s Judiciary Police (PJ), Wong Sio Chak, has been appointed Secretary for Security. With civil rights and democracy activists worrying that he will try to combat their activities ruthlessly, allegations have surfaced that he will be a “hawkish Secretary.”
“I don’t agree with seeing me as a hawk for law enforcement. For a long time, the PJ and each department under the Secretariat for Security have been strictly abiding by the law when conducting law enforcement,” he told a press conference yesterday, adding that their work takes place under the supervision of the public and the judicial authorities.
He stressed that he cannot see how he’s being labeled a hawk, as “enforcing the laws according to Macau’s legal framework is a duty that each department under the Secretariat for Security must fulfill.”
The new officials of the Audit, Judiciary and Police departments, who also attended yesterday’s press conference, likewise vowed that they would continue serving the public according to the rule of law and maintain a good public security environment. BY/CP
New cabinet lineup expected to ‘bring something new’
The total replacement of the principal officials implies “a new beginning” for the next MSAR government term, as the new bureaucrats may “bring something new to public administration and public policy in Macau” and even rely on the new generation of civil servants to push for reform.
Political Science scholar Eric Sautede commented that the shift of positions is “extremely positive” and it’s especially important for Chui Sai On to steer the course in his second term, giving the fact that he was re-elected without a competitor.
“There was really this impression that a lot of things were stalling and there was a lack of imagination when it came to designing new public policy,” he said. “I think having new people will make it easier to tackle some of the very important decisions.”
“Now you have people that are coming of age in public administration, for example the deputy directors and heads of office. People who have been trained in the past fifteen years, now are really coming to positions of responsibility. So I think these new Secretaries would have the possibility to rely on the new generation of civil servants who are also eager to push for reform but have maybe been prevented by former officials and some [offices] had been taken in the past fifteen years,” Mr Sautede added
The scholar also stressed that there should be more “inter-secretary cooperation.”
“Because we have the feeling that everything is up to the Chief Executive, everybody will report to the CE but everybody is basically isolated in their own area of power,” he indicated.
Speaking of the new Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong Vai Tac, Sautede said it is “a very good sign” for the position to be taken over by a “confident businessman who is prudent and also had a vision that Macau would develop differently.”
“That might be in a way very good, because he knows some of the issues related to business first hand,” he commented. “But he has to really show and prove himself very independent from the interests that exist in Macau, which is not something easy to do for anybody. It would be even more difficult for him because his own laundry service company is linked to the main casino operators.”
As for the new Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, the scholar recognized him as playing an active role in education, cultural and social affairs, who is also carrying a lot of expectations from related sectors.
“Especially because he is a man very connected to different kind of associations in Macau, listening to different kind of interests, very open-minded, [who] speaks different languages,” he said. “If there is one man to really watch, it would be Alexis Tam. I think a lot of people have very high expectations of him, we’ll see whether he’s able to deliver.”
Another new appointment that drew much expectation is the position of Secretary for Administration and Justice, as there had been public voices expressing disappointment in the incumbent Secretary, Florinda Chan.
“If I look at what she has accomplished in the past fifteen years, I think it’s rather poor. I do believe there are a lot of expectations for the person who’s going to replace her. But it will not be too difficult to do a better job in a way,” said Sautede, adding that the opportunity for political reform in 2012 was missed out during Florinda Chan’s term of office.
Transport and Public Works has been another area of governance that is seen as stalling, whereas public transportation has topped the general public’s concerns. In addition, after experiencing the corruption scandal of previous Secretary Ao Man Long, the domain has been a sensitive one to steer.
The scholar indicated that Raimundo do Rosário, an official who was chosen from outside the political sphere, may benefit the administration in this area. “I think it’s very positive of having someone who spent a lot of time in Europe, and is also Macanese who has a hybrid identity, which is the added value of Macau compared to Hong Kong and any other places in China. But again we have to see whether he’ll be able to deliver and what would be the room for maneuver,” he added.
Another scholar and social commentator, Larry So also sees the new line-
up of secretaries as “suitable,” while acknowledging that there are a lot of issues in the community that need to be solved.
Speaking to TDM News, Mr So said that the new Secretary for Economy and Finance, Lionel Leong, is taking office in a particularly difficult time, as gaming revenues dropped for the sixth consecutive month in November.
Nevertheless, he added that Mr Leong brings in a business perspective that could help develop local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially supporting them to grow outside the shadow of the gaming industry.
The scholar said that the new Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo do Rosário, could bring in a European perspective into Macau’s livelihood issues. BY/CP
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