Tax relief proposed for building renovation works

The Urban Renewal Committee discussed tax relief for building renovation works, Paul Tse, a member of the Committee, told the media after yesterday’s meeting.

According to Tse, his team, which is the first of three Urban Renewal Committee task forces, raised three proposals to the committee regarding tax relief for building renovation.

Given three conditions, tax relief could be granted to select parties.

“When the building is facing safety issues, [property owners] can get a tax relief for the renovation; when they [the buildings] are related to Macau’s important public benefit, there can also be tax relief; when all property owners agree on a renovation, there can be a tax relief as well,” explained Tse.

Regarding the residences of property owners who acquired their buildings through a renovation process, the committee suggested that the government either provide them with temporary residences or offer them other sponsorship programs.

Paulino do Lago Comandante, co-coordinator of the committee’s second task force, introduced his team’s work report on the sidelines of the meeting, which concluded with a report regarding the reuse of industrial buildings.

“Currently, there are some difficulties [affecting] the laws [in regard to the reuse of industrial buildings],” said Comandate.

However, he mentioned the fact that Hong Kong had managed to carry out similar works and that “we want to see whether there can be small amendments within the legal framework.”

“[We could] establish a simple legislation procedure for the re-usage of industrial buildings,” declared Comandante.

“Currently, a few industrial buildings are not performing industrial activities. They are either abandoned, or they are being used for different types of activities,” Comandate remarked. He also noted that the reuse of industrial buildings should not only comply with Macau’s fire regulations, but with all other safety regulations.

“On the other hand, [the reuse of industrial buildings] involves changing the function of an industrial building as well as the laws,” said Comandante, adding that “[we could] prepare some special regulations [and] make a few exceptions [in order for industrial buildings to be used for other purposes].”

The coordinator noted that his task force considers it suitable for industrial buildings to be used for cultural and recreational activities, or even training programs.

His team also suggested that the government could issue temporary licenses to the organizers of such activities to permit them to use industrial buildings. JZ