Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai is to chair two new working groups, one on the development of Hengqin and the other a leading group on administrative reform.
According to a government statement, three other new groups are to be established under André Cheong, the secretary for administration and justice. They are a coordination group on administrative reform, as well as groups on legal coordination and city beautification and sanitation.
The statement said that the new groups were in line with the developmental directives given by President Xi Jinping during his visit to the city in December.
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The groups will “enhance interdepartmental and cross-sector cooperation,” the government says.
They also aim “to improve the governance ability and governance level of the MSAR government, advance the leadership and overall coordination mechanisms for public administration reforms, strengthen top-level guidance and cross-sector coordination, enhance legislative coordination and planning, improve the legal system, and promote healthy interaction between administrative and legislative work.”
Sam’s personal leadership of the Hengqin group underscores the importance that the local government attaches to increasing the assimilation of Macao and Hengqin – an island district of Zhuhai that is seen as offering vital room for the SAR’s continued development and expansion.
