Three remote service counters* were opened in the new Macau Government Services Centre on the peninsula yesterday, which allows residents to remotely access 120 services from six departments in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin without the need for cross-border travel, according to yesterday’s press conference held by the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP).
The new Government Services Centre in the northern district came into operation on October 6.
The “Interdepartmental Electronic Governance Press Conference” was held at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo.
SAFP Deputy Director Chan Chi Kin said in a speech that three new remote service counters have been opened at the Macau Government Services Centre in Avenida de Venceslau de Morais (慕拉士大馬路), providing 120 services, including commercial affairs, taxation, real estate, notarisation and others, aiming to facilitate travel-free cross-boundary services.
Meanwhile, two new remote counters have been added at the Hengqin Citizens Service Centre, complementing the existing counter at Hengqin’s “Macau New Neighbourhood”, allowing residents to remotely handle services or make enquiries in Hengqin, which have been expanded to 175 services across 11 government entities, including identification, social security, and business start-ups, Chan said.
According to a statement released by the Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) during the press conference, the local government piloted the first “Remote Service Counter” at its 24-hour Self-Service Centre at the Hengqin “Macau New Neighbourhood”, in conjunction with the “Macao One Account” and “Business & Societies One Account” app, in order to allow residents in Hengqin to communicate “at zero distance” during office hours by video link with frontline staff of the government, facilitating the handling of Macau public services.
Expansion of ‘Macao One Account’ and ‘Business & Associations Platform’ online service
Chan noted that the vehicle insurance renewal service on the “Macao One Account” app was launched yesterday so that vehicle owners can now renew their motor insurance through their “Macao One Account” up to one month before expiration. Chan said that the initial phase supports renewals with China Taiping Insurance (Macau) Company Limited.
Chan added that businesses and associations can now link their vehicles to their “Business & Associations Platform” accounts, facilitating the confirmation and payment of traffic fines. Chan also said that in the future the service will include annual vehicle tax payments. He noted that the licence renewal services on the “Business & Associations Platform” were expanded to cover 23 additional types from five public entities yesterday - the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau (ISAF), Transport Bureau (DSAT), and Civil Aviation Authority (AACM). The platform now offers 55 types of licence renewals across seven public entities.
Parents’ Zone
The app’s new Parents’ Zone will provide services concerning school enrolment, declarations, subsidy applications and a one-stop licensing service for “Tutorial Centres”, Chan said. “Real Estate Broker Licences” and “Pharmaceutical Professional Licences” services will also be launched on the “Macao One Account”, Chan said, adding that services related to real estate acquisition, mortgage registration and the issuance of relevant certificates were slated to be added next month.
Chan pointed out that the number of registered users for electronic notifications on the “Macao One Account” or the “Business & Associations Platform,” has now increased to 220,000, a significant increase of 210,000 compared to before last year’s amendments. Furthermore, 23 services from 11 public entities are now issuing electronic notifications through the “One Account” and the “Business & Associations Platform,” indicating that citizens are gradually accepting the use of electronic notifications, Chan said.
Improvements to “Smart Collect” self-service lockers
Moreover, 51 new services for “Smart Collect” self-service lockers from eight public entities have been added since yesterday, bringing the total to 126 services across 11 entities – and the services provide greater flexibility for residents to collect government documents like certificates and licences 24/7, according to a separate SAFP statement yesterday.
As of yesterday, usage had exceeded 25,000 times, the bureau said.
The lockers are currently available at eight 24-hour government self-service centres in Macau and the Government 24-Hour Self-Service Centre at the Hengqin “Macao New Neighbourhood.”
Additional lockers will be installed at the Hengqin Cooperation Zone Citizen Service Centre next month, further enabling residents in Hengqin to collect documents without cross-boundary travel, the statement said.
For more information, please visit the “One Account” website and the “Business & Associations Platform” website.
* Remote service counters are service points that are geographically separated from the main office or hub. – DeepSeek
A Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau (SAFP) official demonstrates the use of the new remote service counters at the Macau Government Services Centre on Avenida de Venceslau de Morais yesterday. – Photo: Ida Cheong
Public Administration and Civil Service Bureau SAFP Deputy Director Chan Chi Kin (centre) and others address yesterday’s “Interdepartmental Electronic Governance Press Conference” at the Public Administration Building on Rua do Campo. – Photo: Ida Cheong
