A cultural scholar has called for an explanation regarding the removal of Portuguese stone pavement from the St. Lazarus District and its replacement with reinforced concrete and bricks.
The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has removed Portuguese stones along the slope next to the Albergue. The process did not generate much noise initially, but when residents and netizens began to notice it near the end of the works, they found that the IAM had converted the stone pavement into reinforced concrete, and a debate began.
Comments across several social media pages were divided. Some applauded the move, saying that they have slipped while riding motorbikes across the pavement on a rainy day. Others criticized the conversion as jeopardizing the overall landscape in the district. A social media user reminded those who claimed to have slipped on the road in question to use better-quality tires.
With the conversion of the road now concluded, the IAM has commenced the next phase of its work. It is now converting Rua de São Miguel, the slope symmetrically opposite the slope next to Albergue.
On September 1, the Times sent an email enquiry to the IAM on the matter. No reply has been received by press time.
Pan Lei, cultural scholar and enthusiastic traveler, hinted to the Times that the authority should explain the grounds on which they began the conversion.
He first pointed out that the stone pavement is a symbol of Macau’s history of connecting the East and the West. “Although some say stone pavement is not a centuries-old thing, it is still something originating in Europe that was introduced to Macau,” Lei said.
Commenting on the functional perspective of the stone pavement, the cultural scholar admitted that it may get slippery under certain conditions. “First, that street is a slope. Second, it’s used by motor vehicles,” he said. He implied that he was unsure if the IAM considered this the reason for the importance of the conversion.
Nonetheless, he immediately raised the question of whether there are upgraded versions or techniques of making the pavement which would prevent it from being slippery, even on rainy days.
“Let’s say, when people refurbish their apartments, they have an option of non-slippery tiles that are more suitable for use in washrooms,” Lei posited.
When asked about the possibility of decolonization, the cultural scholar sounded cautious and refrained from making any speculation in this direction.
Instead, Lei stressed that the incident has highlighted Macau residents’ concern for the cultural interactions between the East and the West.
“The quality of East-West cultural interaction is a cultural calling card of Macau,” he said. “The winning of the World Heritage listing was also based on our history of having several hundred years of this quality.”
He added that Macau, in its attempt to be a world tourism and leisure destination, must have qualities that define and distinguish itself from other tourist destinations. “Our character is [defined by having] something that is different from others,” Lei said.
From the perspective of economics, the cultural scholar also sees the value in retaining Portuguese stone pavements in Macau.
Set of urban design guidelines needed
Urban planner Lam Iek Chit told local Chinese media Cheng Pou that, as per his understanding, the Cultural Heritage Protection Law requires a synchronized landscape within one single set of architecture.
While he admitted to the need for a non-slippery environment for traffic, the urban planner stressed that the converted road has become disconnected from the overall landscape in the district.
In addition, he thinks the government should compile a set of urban design guidelines so that all entities will comply when they need to build or update architectural works.
He added that, if it is not a work of urgency, the government should think twice and liaise with the public to develop a suitable plan.
Local Portuguese media Hoje Macau reported in May last year that the IAM had been in touch with the Cultural Affairs Bureau, directly citing the IAM.
Back then, the two bureaus discussed converting some stone pavement to reinforced concrete so as to avoid the ground getting slippery on rainy days. It would also help rainwater drainage, the report went.
An online entity that translates Portuguese news reports to Chinese, Média José, posted its Chinese translation of the Hoje Macau report to its social media page. The translated story attracted, in its first 48 hours, nearly 300 “angry” reactions.
Some social media users feared that the conversion would leave Macau with no character to distinguish it from other cities in the Greater Bay Area.
The next day, the IAM issued a statement stressing that it would continue paving roads with Portuguese stones to connect various districts and tourism attractions. It admitted that Portuguese stone pavements are a special urban design feature of Macau.
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