Macao’s top official lays out his vision for the coming year and highlights his administration’s work in national security and economic diversification.
Politics
Li passed away in Shanghai last Friday at the age of 68. Flags will fly at half-mast at the Government Headquarters as well as all border checkpoints today.
The Peking University-trained economist was known for his pragmatic policies targeting income inequality and unaffordable housing.
Washington says it will impose sanctions on Macao from next year over the territory’s alleged failure to combat the scourge of trafficking.
The bill aims for more thorough vetting of chief executive candidates on national security grounds, and to criminalise the act of inciting election committee members not to vote.
Priorities are likely to include polishing Macao’s status as a non-gaming destination, furthering economic diversification, and greater integration with Hengqin.
While national identity education is already common in the SAR, a new framework is being developed to incorporate lessons on national security.
The government-sponsored bill has been designed to plug national security loopholes in the existing legislation.
The Macao public have just 30 days to submit feedback on the government’s freshly-proposed five-year economic diversification plan, centred around reducing dependency on casinos.