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Macao chief executive delivers 2017 policy address, stressing livelihood of locals

Xinhua, November 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chief Executive of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chui Sai On said Tuesday that the SAR government is to take a series of livelihood-related measures to advance the life quality for locals.

Chui disclosed the initiatives in the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2017 at the Legislative Assembly, entitled "Development Plan in Progress for Building a Perfect Home".

This year's policy address covered four chapters: "Implementation of livelihood-related policies and measures", "Consolidation of the foundation for economic development", "Building a happy and perfect home", and "Enhancement of public services' efficiency".

Enhancing the respective livelihoods of Macao people is a top priority of the government, said Chui. The SAR government is to push forward measures in the short, medium, and long-term that help consolidate the three-layer social security system, namely the social security fund, social assistance, and social welfare.

In support of its policy targets, the SAR government is maintaining the public subsidies for elderly, disadvantaged families, low-income full-time employees and those who need help.

The government would continue the Wealth Partaking Scheme, which offers 9,000 patacas annually to each permanent resident and 5,400 patacas for each non-permanent resident.

All these relief measures would cost the SAR government 12.352 billion patacas, Chui concluded.

The SAR government will continue with the public housing policy to improve the living quality of locals. Chui said that a total of about 12,600 public housing units will be built in the short to medium term. While in the long run, it is planned to build about 28,000 public housing units at the reclamation area.

Chui's report remains cautiously optimistic about Macao's economic prospects, predicting the economy of the SAR is expected to resume positive.

In economic development chapter, Chui places great importance on regional cooperation, indicating that the Macao should make the most of the supportive measures granted by the central government to participate in the nation's "Belt and Road" initiative.

The report also emphasizes to deepen the cooperation with Jiangsu, Beijing, Tianjin and the provinces of the Pearl River Delta Region, and explore the exchange and cooperation between Macao and the traditional industrial regions in the midwest and northeast regions of China. Endit