In response to mounting public criticism, Macao’s government has halted construction of a new 42 million patacas Kun Iam statue next to Hac-Sá Reservoir. Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong made the announcement at a press conference today.
Last week, lawmaker Ron Lam U Tou slammed the project as an irresponsible waste of money. His political party, Synergy of Macao, launched a petition to pressure the government into rethinking its plans.
On Monday, Cheong said that the government had listened to diverse opinions expressed by Macao residents regarding the statue – intended as part of a 10-hectare youth camp development. Given the strength of opposition to proposed plans, Cheong acknowledged it would be inappropriate to go through with them.
Excavation was to stop immediately and the site would be backfilled with earth. Planting to prevent erosion of the bare soil would begin soon, Cheong said. Suspension bridges at the top of Hac Sa dam, which had been open to the public prior to the excavation’s commencement, will remain closed indefinitely for safety reasons.
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In terms of what will happen with the site in the future, Cheong said he was open to suggestions.
Cheong acknowledged the government had failed to act with sufficient social sensitivity around the project, and had done a poor job disseminating information. These processes would be reviewed, Cheong said.
At the same press conference, Cheong addressed accusations around the youth park’s ballooning budget. He acknowledged that the original 230 million patacas project, first proposed in 2020, was now predicted to cost 1.4 billion patacas.
Cheong said the original proposal had been deemed too narrow in scope – after public consultation – and that the new one better suited the city’s diverse needs for leisure space. Cheong said the youth park’s current budget would be assessed by a neutral party, to reassure the public it was both reasonable and achievable.
