Policy Address to be delivered in March

Macau’s chief executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will be delivering next year’s policy address in March. He will, however, make an appearance before Legislative Assembly lawmakers in November – a month usually chosen to present government policies for the coming year.
On the sidelines of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) graduation ceremony, Chui Sai On said he would be participating in a Legislative Assembly plenary meeting in November to provide an overview of the work performed throughout the year.
“Prior to this year’s plenary in November, which will serve to provide an overview of what we have been working on in the past year, in April and March next year there will be two AL [sessions] regarding the Policy Address,” he told reporters.
The estimated budget for the first quarter of next year will be presented in November. Chui hinted that the government is looking to have a similar budget to the previous year.
Questioned regarding the cash handout policy, Mr Chui recognized that his team will assess this matter according to the coming year’s foreseen surplus. The Chief Executive did not confirm whether the cash handout policy is due to be maintained or not. “If there will be revenues reaching a suitable [amount] to share with society, then the government will be pondering that. Although gaming revenue and gaming revenue growth have decreased lately, the number of tourists visiting Macau did not decline,” Chui Sai On stressed. CP