Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On says in his first ever audio message, which was released on his official website on Sunday, that Macau’s overall development maintains a “positive trend”.
However, he urged citizens to be aware of any challenges that may lie ahead.
Chui also says in the audio message, whose release coincided with Mother’s Day, that the local unemployment rate remains low and that the government’s financial situation is stable and solid.
Macau’s officially estimated jobless rate stood at 1.7 percent in the first quarter.
Chui also says in the message he is delighted to be able to make use of a new media – audio messaging – to share his thoughts and feelings with the population.
“Many people have recently raised their concerns about the future of Macau’s economy. Therefore, I am making use of this platform to share my thoughts with everyone. The gaming industry, one of the economic pillars of Macau, has entered a period of adjustment and consolidation. As the local economy is slowing down, civil society is feeling anxious,” the chief executive says in the message.
The website containing the audio message is titled “Words of the chief executive – contemplating, expressing, sharing.”
“Of course, we need to be aware of the problems ahead and the most important thing is that we must have courage …considering civil society as a whole, the unemployment rate remains low, the financial situation remains stable and solid, and several large investment projects are on schedule. Macau was chosen as one of the world’s ‘10 Best Tourist Regions’ in 2015 [by Lonely Planet]. The overall development of Macau remains positive,” Chui says.
Chui also says in the audio message that Macau has the confidence and capacity to progress thanks to the support of a stable and harmonious society and the development of the local economy, as well as the advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle.
“During 15 years of progress the local economy has enjoyed rapid growth and its resources are prepared for any future developments. The non-gaming sector of the gaming industry is continuing to grow… gaming-related businesses such as tourism, hotels and retail have maintained stable growth,” Chui said.
In the audio message, Chui says his government’s target remains to develop Macau into a “world tourism and leisure centre” by diversifying the local economy and strengthening regional co-operation.
He also pledged that the government will improve the application of its financial reserves to further speed up the development of its role as a world tourism and leisure centre and strengthen Macau’s position as an economic and trade co-operation service hub between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.
The 5-minute-44-second audio in Chinese also wishes all local mothers a happy day. “Great maternal love is a relevant tradition and virtue,” Chui concludes.
While Chui’s original audio message is in Cantonese, the website (www.gce.gov.mo) provides its text in simplified and traditional Chinese as well as Portuguese.
The message is accompanied by piano music in the background, which according to a statement by the Government Information Bureau (GCS) was created by an – unnamed – local artist. The GCS statement added that all future audio messages by the chief executive will have background music created by local artists in an attempt to “promote and support” Macau’s creative industries.
(macaunews/macaupost)
