Song Pek Kei: “I have nothing against non-residents”

Lawmaker Song Pek Kei, whose comments toward non-residents sparked controversy last year, has made assurances she has nothing against foreign workers. Reviewing the current legislative session, which comes to an end today, the 29-year-old legislator told Radio Macau that she was misinterpreted.
Last year, during a Legislative Assembly plenary meeting, Song Pek Kei said that non-resident workers contributed to increasing the cost of rental housing. She went even further to say that foreign workers were occupying public space initially intended for residents.
Song Pek Kei, whose parents emigrated from mainland China to Macau, clarified that she is worried about “identity differences” between those who come from outside Macau and those who already live here.
“We are not against non-resident workers – we requested the government pay attention to how it manages resources and the increase [in numbers] of non-resident workers. We want the government to reasonably share resources between non-residents and residents, so that society can evolve peacefully,” she said.
Recalling Hong Kong’s experience, Song Pek Kei stated that the neighboring SAR accommodated an increasing number of tourists, while the number of non-residents also grew. “This led to protests organized by Hong Kong residents. Some of them even [verbally] offended non-resident workers. We don’t want the same happening in Macau,” she stated.