Macau’s Alliance for Common People Building Up Macau (API) hosted a Spring Festival reception at Golden Dragon hotel in Zape yesterday, announcing that it will focus on four key projects this year.
API is one of the city’s biggest community associations and is generally regarded as representing the city’s sizeable Fujianese community.
API Chairman Si Ka Lon said in a speech that the four key projects comprise the establishment of an office in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, the optimisation of the group’s elderly care centre’s services, the upgrading of its citizens’ service centre in Fai Chi Kei, and the addition of a medical centre in Taipa.
Si’s speech included a review of the group’s work last year, pointing out that over 200 events were organised, involving more than 1.5 million participants, and following up on nearly 1,300 cases.
Si, the first secretary of the Legislative Assembly’s executive board, noted that this year marks the beginning of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan, adding that his group will set up a modern patriotic association system integrating “service, policy advocacy, and think tank” functions into one entity.
The Central People’s Government’s relevant 15th Five-Year Plan was published on Saturday. Its Chapter 17, pertaining to Macau, outlines support for Macau to diversify its economy and develop tourism and culture; strengthen cooperation with the Chinese mainland to enhance competitiveness; and encourage international education and exchanges. Meanwhile, the drafting of Macau’s 3rd Five-Year Plan has yet to be completed. Its public consultation process is slated to be held next month, the local government has announced recently.
Regarding the four key projects, Si said that while the Hengqin office will address the living and employment needs of Macau residents in the In-Depth Cooperation Zone, the elderly care centre will enhance its outreach services and encourage seniors to remain active. Si also said that while the service centre in Fai Chi Kei will transition to a “regular activity model”, the group’s fifth medical centre, in alignment with government’s Chronic Disease Management Programme, will be set up on Rua do Regedor (地堡街) in Taipa.
Effective March 1, Si pointed out, Macau’s paid maternity leave for female employees with one year of service has been increased from 70 days to 90 days adding that paternity leave for male employees remains at seven days.
API President Nick Lei Leong Wong told reporters on the sidelines that that the Hengqin office was expected to be established in the In-Depth Cooperation Zone this year. The initial phase would focus on detailed issues such as residents’ customs clearance, property management, and childcare services, Lei, a directly-elected lawmaker, said.
The service centre in Fai Chi Kei will be relocated to an industrial building, providing a larger community activity space, according to Lei, adding that the group’s fifth medical centre was expected to open in the third quarter, accepting cases referred to it by public health centres.
Alliance for Common People Building Up Macau (API) President Nick Lei Leong Wong speak to reporters at Golden Dragon hotel in Zape yesterday. – Photo: Armindo Neves
