The five secretaries of the Macau government will be sent to Beijing between 21 and 25 April to take part in an intensive training course in the Chinese Academy of Governance regarding national development strategies and political awareness, according to a statement released by the Government Information Bureau.
The programme aims to provide the principal officials of the government with the latest developments regarding China’s socio-economic conditions.
It is part of the effort to consolidate and integrate Macau’s contribution to China’s development.
The decision taken by the Chief Executive Chui Sai On aims to also strengthen the capacity of the principal officials
of the government.
According to the statement, the training programme for the 10 local officials has been jointly decided by Chief Executive Chui Sai On and the related entities of the central government.
The group will include Secretary for Administration and Justice Chan Hoi Fan, Secretary for Economy and Finance Leong Vai Tac, the Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng and Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo Arrais do Rosario.
Another five principal officials of the government, the Commissioner Against Corruption Cheong Weng Chon, the Commissioner of Audit Ho Veng On, the Commissioner-General of the Unitary Police Service Ma Io Kun, the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service Vong Iao Lek and the Public Prosecutor-General Ip Son Sang will visit the Chinese capital for the training programme.
The delegation is headed by Chan, who ranks top among Macau’s principal officials under the chief executive who, according to Article 45 of the Macau Basic Law, heads and represents the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Training for the officials is part of the overall training programme for Macau’s civil servants but it is the first time since the handover of Macau in 1999 that all the principal officials of the government will fly to Beijing for training in areas of social-economic development and politics.
According to the government statement, after the training sessions the group will visit the Jiangsu province that has special economic relations with Macau and the Portuguese speaking countries.
Speaking to reporters in Beijing last month, Legislative Assembly (AL) President Ho Iat Seng urged Macau government’s senior officials to familiarise themselves with the nation’s political system and landscape.
Ho is a member of the NPC Standing Committee.
