UM requested to submit report for student house rental

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam has requested that the University of Macau (UM) submit a report regarding illegal accommodation at its postgraduate house.

On Sunday, a media report revealed that one student living at the postgraduate house of UM had placed the school’s available dormitory on Airbnb for rental.

The student was ordered to move out from UM’s postgraduate house, with the school providing assistance to the student.

Yesterday, Secretary Tam confirmed that the student had been ordered to move out from his dormitory. Tam also said that he had asked UM to submit a report on the case as soon as possible.

Tam believes that the incident is related to the school’s management issues, which he requested UM to improve.

As of yesterday noon, UM was still investigating the case. Tam believes that UM will announce the results as soon as possible.

In addition to this case, Tam said that the government has been paying attention to illegal guesthouse situations and that the Secretary for Administration and Justice Sonia Chan already has a working group devoted to the possibility of amending the law on illegal accommodation. 

He said that his sector has asked UM and its colleges, as well as other schools, to be very cautious in their management.

In Tam’s opinion, UM has administrative, financial and scientific autonomy and UM should do a better job in its management.