Holds 28 e-cards from 13 public entities

Prisca Tang

        The government announced yesterday that it has launched an e-cardholder on its ‘Common Access to Public Services’ app that holds 28 e-cards from 13 public entities.

The announcement was made at a joint press conference by the 13 public entities.

An official from the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) said during the press conference at the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) headquarters in Praça do Tap Seac that in order to encourage e-development in the city and solve the problem of lost or damaged physical cards for public services, the government has decided to launch an e-cardholder function on its “Common Access to Public Services” app.

The SAFP official said that the 13 public entities involved in the first phase of the e-cardholder project are the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), Cultural Affairs Bureau, Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau, Sports Bureau (ID), Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Health Bureau (SSM), Pension Fund (FP), Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), University of Macau (UM), Environment Protection Bureau (DSPA), Macau Polytechnic Institute (IPM), and Macau Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM).

The following cards are the first covered by the e-cardholder:

‘One-click’ scanner function

The official said that for the convenience of residents to get all of their public services cards, the e-cardholder has a “one-click” function that can scan all the cards under the resident’s name. The official clarified that residents also have the option to input only certain cards.

The official explained that for those who are under the age of 18 but have signed up for a Common Access to Public Services account can also have their parents access their e-cardholders.

The official noted that currently there are 930,000 “gold card” holders yet last year 500,000 holders requested a new one due to it being lost or damaged, adding that the new e-cardholder would ease the problem that physical cards have. A nurse from the Tap Seac Health Centre pointed out that the e-cardholder has a “personal health management” function that can document one’s height, weight and blood pressure just by scanning a code.

When asked about whether other cards or certifications can be added to the e-cardholder, SAFP Deputy Director Ng Wai Han said that currently there are other cards, such as the driver’s licence, that are not included, adding that the government is aiming to diversify the types of ID or certificates included in the e-cardholder.

Ng said that this is, however, only the first phase of the e-cardholder, as it has yet to replace physical cards. She added that the government hopes that once the e-cardholder proliferates, people can use the cardholder instead of physical cards. She also pointed out that there are still some registration processes that require residents to show their physical cards and the regulation has not been amended yet so that at the moment the e-cardholder cannot completely replace the role of physical cards.

Reporters asked Ng whether there will be workshops for senior citizens to learn how to use or register for the e-cardholder, she said that if there are social groups or organisations requesting such a service, her bureau would “gladly” organise classes for those who need help.

Ng underlined that currently there are only 28 types of cards that can be displayed in the e-cardholder, adding that the public is welcome to come up with proposals on what else should be included in the e-cardholder. 

Two library staff members demonstrate how to use the new e-version of the Public Library Reader Card yesterday at the Central Library in Praça do Tap Seac. Photo: Prisca Tang