Most of the representatives from the business sector Monday backed the government’s idea of importing professionals through a point-based system, but also suggested encouraging locals studying overseas to return to Macau to serve the city whose population is forecast by the government to reach 802,000, of which up to 200,000 would be imported workers, in 2036.
About 80 people from the manufacturing, business and financial sector attended the first round of a public consultation session on the “Framework of Macau’s Population Policy” at the Macau Science Centre .
Lao Pun Lap, who heads the government’s Policy Research Office (GEP), came up with the framework and released the details last week.
Lao attended the Monday meeting.
While most agreed with the necessity of importing professionals, many suggested that the government should also consider encouraging locals studying overseas to return to Macau once they have finished their education abroad as a way to meet the big demand of professionals and “talents” for the future of Macau.
According to The Macau Post Daily 40 percent of Macau’s 4,600 university students were studying abroad – including mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong – between 2010 and 2011.(macaunews)
