The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) will move from the government’s Social Affairs and Culture secretariat to the one of Economy and Finance, public broadcaster TDM-Radio Macau reported on Thursday.
The unsourced report said the change would be announced by Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng in his 2020 Policy Address in the legislature’s hemicycle on Monday.
MGTO – which, in spite of its English name, is not an office but a bureau – has been a part of the portfolio of the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture since the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) in December 1999. According to the report, MGTO will become part of the portfolio of Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong, which among others also includes the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ).
Analysts say that having both tourism and gaming under the supervision of the same policy secretariat makes sense as both areas are closely linked.
Administrative reform was one of the major points of Ho’s chief executive election campaign last year.
The report also said that the Higher Education Bureau (DSES) will be merged with the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ). The report said that current DSES Director Sou Chio Fai will retire in August. Both bureaus are part of the portfolio of Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Ao Ieong U.
According to the report, the Energy Sector Development Office (GDSE) will be merged with the Environmental Protection Bureau (DSPA). Both belong to the portfolio of Secretariat for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário.
Meanwhile, informed sources have told the Macau Post Daily that the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) will possibly move from the direct supervision of the Chief Executive to the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture.
Bureaus are the top-level administrative entities of the local government. Offices are second-tier entities.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
