New Macau Association | Alexis Tam dubbed ‘ignorant and arrogant’ in atmosphere of gov’t-sponsored ‘suppression’

Scott Chiang (left) and Jason Chao

At a New Macau Association press conference yesterday, held at the group’s headquarters, president Scott Chiang labeled the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture as an “ignorant and arrogant official” who is not suitable to be in charge of preserving the city’s heritage.
Chiang made the comments just days after he was arrested by the police following the hoisting of a black banner on Hotel Estoril that denounced Secretary Alexis Tam as a “heritage killer.”
The president, who was released after spending the night in detention, during the course of which he underwent a lengthy interrogation, said he has not yet been charged with an offence and that there have been no further developments that he can provide at the moment.
Meanwhile, Chiang and other senior ANM members expressed the belief that Thursday’s protest is a reflection of the “suppressed public opinion” in Macau, which has worsened in recent years, but specifically over the “farce of the whole renovation project.”
“We can see the willingness of a handful [of people] to establish whatever they want; to pursue whatever they want in government. That willingness has steamrolled all opposition and any chance to do [something different]. That is a dangerous sign that we don’t want to see. [This kind of action] is poisonous and discourages people from expressing their opinion in a fair and peaceful manner,” said Chiang at the press briefing.
While neither confirming nor denying that he was behind the hoisting of the protest banner, Chiang nevertheless confirmed that given the opportunity, he “might” recreate the demonstration.
“If there is a chance to do it over again and I was [delegated] the role of doing it… I might take it. But I cannot answer whether or not I did it […] for judicial reasons,” said Chiang. “Even if you lock me up, some other guys will do it [these sorts of protests].”
Playing down the issue, he said: “We are not talking about a big issue like democracy or big money – it’s just historic heritage […] and how we champion the buildings of a city and our memories in a historic city.”
Asked if he expected to be locked up on Thursday night, Chiang said: “Well, there were certain things that I did not expect. I did not expect the public [outrage]. I did not expect the reaction times of ‘Macau’s finest’,” he joked. “If only they [the police] could react so fast on every other issue.”
Also in the New Macau headquarters yesterday was the inclusion of a poster depicting the iconic façade of Hotel Estoril and the headline: “History should not only be on paper.”
However the ANM leader was unable to provide a concrete alternative use for the decades-
old derelict building that is in a serious state of disrepair. Asked for his proposals, Chiang said that he merely wants something that “celebrates our past.”
While ANM notes that the hotel’s murky past as a brothel does make it somewhat less respectable than it otherwise may be, association leaders also point to the preservation of other brothels in the region for their historic “contribution” to Macau. They added that as residents of a historic city, citizens should come to terms with both the good and bad elements of the MSAR’s past.
“Why can’t we just be more open to our own past?” Chiang questioned.

Chiang wants walking tours over tourist buses

Asked about the possible government regulation of tourist buses in the historic center of the city following the recent crash near Kiang Wu hospital, ANM president Scott Chiang said that he would support proposals that encourage walking tours in the old district.
“We are saddened that it took some casualties for the government to actually take things seriously. It’s not the first time that a member of the public has pointed out not just the issue of safety but of [congestion] due to the touring bus,” said Chiang. “Sadly we need to take this kind of case to put the issue under [the spotlight].”
He said that he proposes the promotion of walking in the territory as opposed to “bus-
hopping and photo-taking”, an initiative that the Macao Government Tourist Office has tried to promote in the past.
“Macau is a lovely little place where [almost everything] is within walking distance,” Chiang added. “It would be nice if people interested in heritage, historic architecture and the overall atmosphere of Macau, can spread around the whole neighborhood and enjoy it [on foot].”