The Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (UGAMM), widely known as Kai Fong, hosted a media reception yesterday, where its president, John Chan Ka Leong announced that the group plans to set up a residents’ mutual aid association in Zone A.
The Spring Festival media luncheon was held at Hotel Beverly Plaza in Zape.
Chan noted in a speech that Kai Fong’s “Kang Jun” Day Care Centre in Zone A has commenced operations, providing daytime care services for elderly residents in the new neighbourhood, adding that an initial quota of approximately 20 users is already available. Chan also said that the number of residents moving to Zone A was expected to gradually increase.
“Kang Jun” (康駿) means, literally translated, “Healthy Steed”.
The government plans for up to 96,000 people to live in Zone A, a new land reclamation area covering 1.38 km2, potentially resulting in a population density of 69,565 residents per km2. The area is mainly earmarked for public housing projects, consisting of subsidised home-ownership flats and social rental housing units.
Kai Fong is in touch with relevant government entities regarding the possibility of establishing a residents’ mutual aid association and a “Yee Hong” (“颐康” – “nurturing” or “care”) Centre for Geriatric Care in Zone A, Chan said, adding the goal was to collect residents’ opinions and assist them in addressing community-related issues.
Chan also said that this year, efforts would be made by his group to explore innovative models such as smart elderly care and smart communities, deepen Kai Fong’s service presence in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) by optimising the operation of its elderly care centre in the “Macau New Neighbourhood” (MNN) in Hengqin, and promote the deep integration of technology into community governance.
Last year, Chan said, Kai Fong provided over 4.64 million service visits and handled 6,686 social service cases.
Chan told reporters before the luncheon that the “Kai Fong Car” service currently comprises three vehicles with three drivers, adding that under normal conditions, each driver can provide around seven trips per day.
The primary function of “Kai Fong Car” is to assist disadvantaged groups and individuals with mobility challenges in travelling to and from medical facilities.
However, Chan also said that since the service was relaunched in January, an average of five to six trips per car has been operated daily, indicating that demand remains “very high”.
Assessments are also being conducted to determine whether the service capacity can be expanded in the future to support more individuals with mobility needs, Chan said.
Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (UGAMM – Kai Fong) President John Chan Ka Leong speak to reporters at Hotel Beverly Plaza in Zape during yesterday’s Spring Festival media luncheon. – Photo: Armindo Neves
