Macao SAR chief pledges to improve people's livelihood in policy address

Chui Sai On, chief executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), vowed Tuesday to improve people's livelihood using a combination of short and medium-term measures.

In a policy address delivered at the Legislative Council, Chui said that after the assessment of this year's financial situation, he proposed to continue the cash-sharing plan next year to grant permanent residents 9,000 patacas per person (1,128.39 U.S. dollars) and non-permanent residents 5,400 patacas per person.

Chui also proposed other welfare programs, including offering each eligible Macao permanent resident 10,000 patacas every year and an additional 7,000 patacas - a special allocation of budget surplus - next year in their personal Provident Fund accounts.

The chief executive said the government has increased assistance to the elderly and vulnerable groups by raising pensions to 3,350 patacas and he suggested to raise the minimum subsistence from 3,920 to 4,050 patacas next year.

He also suggested to convert the "short-term food assistance program" to regular service with a daily budget of 40 patacas from the previous 38 patacas, in order to strengthen support for low-income earners.

In addition, Chui proposed to continue the implementation of existing aid to the disabled people, college and postgraduate students.

Official data showed that Macao SAR government will spend about 11.71 billion patacas in subsidies and economic outcome sharing programs. Enditem