The 2009 Legislative Election of the Macao SAR

(Direct Elections)

Political Platform

A Brief Introduction to Observatório Cívico

About Us

The members of Observatório Cívico (literally, Civic Observation) come from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. We strive to improve the livelihood and career prospects of all individuals. Over the past decade, we have witnessed how Macao has rapidly developed in line with the preferential policies offered to the gaming industry, and in so doing has made unnecessary sacrifices. More regrettably, the benefits of this development have not been fairly shared by the majority of Macao people.

In view of the fact that many of the current policies are barely satisfactory and lack forward-looking insights, we strongly feel that our individual efforts alone are inadequate to the task of enabling Macao citizens and successive generations to become more dignified and competitive individuals. Hence, we believe that we must monitor the government via professional and effective means, and provide the growing number of Macao citizens with sufficient opportunities to participate in the formulation of public policy. This is the only way we can fight for the reasonable rights and interests of Macao citizens, accommodate their needs, and develop Macao into a fairer and more dynamic society.

We believe that democracy and the rule of law are the foundations for the prosperity of our society, while monitoring and constructive criticism are effective measures for the prevention of corruption. The benefits and future of Macao should be jointly decided by all Macao citizens; the government’s policy implementation and policymaking should be monitored and appraised by all citizens. The interests of each and every Macao citizen must be protected against unreasonable damage and/or deprivation by any power or influence. To achieve these worthy objectives, however, we must stand up and fight for our rights. Therefore, we must unite our civil forces and adopt practical actions, and so become involved in front line discussions and participate in the politics and the legislative elections of this city.

Through the establishment of democracy and the rule of law, we seek to monitor the government’s policy implementation on behalf of the citizens of Macao; we seek to strive for the long-term interests of sustainable development for our society and its citizens; we seek to reconstruct urban space that belongs to the local people; we seek to assist all hard-working people of Macao to achieve local success; and we seek to fight for a bright and rosy future for all Macao families.

Our Commitment

Our party’s core proposals are:

I. Democracy for Macao citizens by conducting general elections and enhancing the monitoring of policy implementation;

II. An increase in resources for each individual’s livelihood by eliminating all unfair distribution of resources, thereby ensuring all citizens can benefit appropriately from them;

III. More comprehensive social security for the disadvantaged by evaluating and improving current policies and ensuring all resources are properly used;

IV. Invigorated cultural development by overhauling the funding system and improving cultural policies;

V. Innovative educational reform by confronting existing societal challenges and promoting ‘whole person’ development;

VI. More qualified professionals by establishing qualification attainment schemes and professional assessment policy;

VII. More justice for civil servants by eliminating cronyism and reforming the civil service;

VIII. Improved economic system by eradicating vested interest monopolies and developing an honest/healthy market;

IX. Enhanced living environment for Macao by safe-guarding the collective memories of its citizens and building a green city;

X. Proactive future for Macao by arousing its people to build a society of civic-minded citizens

Detailed Platform

policy/proposal

I. Democracy for Macao citizens by conducting general elections and enhancing the monitoring of policy implementation;

· To conduct consultation on political reforms

In order to promote the development of democracy, we shall urge the government to conduct consultation on political reform in 2010, as well as scrutinize and amend the Basic Law.

· To strive for the election of the Chief Executive by universal suffrage

We will strive to have membership in the 2014 Chief Executive Election Committee expanded to 600 individuals or more, to seek a reduction in the proportion of representatives from business and financial circles in the Election Committee, and to have the practice of electing the Chief Executive by universal suffrage adopted no later than 2019.

· To strive for the election of all Legislative Council members by universal suffrage

We will strive to have all seats appointed by the Chief Executive in the 2013 election annulled , and endeavour to have the implementation of a direct election of the entire Legislative Council membership by no later than 2021.

· To initiate reform of the electoral system

We shall urge the government to evaluate and reform the system of direct elections. We will strive to introduce a multi-seat, single-vote system and change the current voting system from single choice per vote to multiple choice per vote in order that more people from different social strata and sectors of the community may have the opportunity to enter the legislative body and achieve political diversity.

· To establish a statutory consultation system

We shall urge the government to confirm the establishment of a statutory consultation system, stipulating that the government must comply with statutory time limits and procedures to conduct public consultation in legislating and amending the law and advancing significant policies. This seeks to ensure the transparency of political affairs to achieve the genuine objective of consultation, and to eliminate current unsystematic consultation.

· Implement a ‘cooling off’ provision for Chief Executive and principal officials （sunset provision?)

We shall urge the government to impose restrictions upon the Chief Executive, principal officials and other leaders or managing personnel, who shall be required to undergo a ‘cooling off’ period upon leaving their positions or transferring to other posts, in order to prevent them from utilising their connections or recognised confidential policies to unfair advantage, and to prevent them from utilising such connections and privileged information to conduct acts prejudicial to the public interest.

· To revise the entire property declaration system of civil servants

In order to advocate a genuine open record, or ‘sunshine law’, we shall urge the government to immediately revise the property declaration system of senior incumbents, such as the Chief Executive, principal officials, and legislative council members and members of the Executive Council, mandating that the above personnel disclose their financial assets to the public. We shall also urge the government to instruct relevant civil servants, especially those in leadership posts, to disclose their salaries in the Official Gazette in order to enhance the transparency in the process of officials’ nomination for the sake of a fair and non-corrupt Macao.

· To establish a system to monitor the allocation of financial resources of the Legislative Council

We shall urge the Legislative Council to establish a system to examine public finances, and deliberate upon public expenses that exceed MOP 10 million. In addition to enhancing the transparency of government expenditure, this measure seeks to control the wastage of money and suppress corrupt acts.

· To advocate a fair society free of corruption

We shall urge the government to:

i) prevent and combat corruption in the private sector promptly, and further empower the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) to conduct investigations and enforce the law;

ii) introduce an independent investigating committee to prevent officials from abusing their power.

II. An increase in resources for the individual’s livelihood by eliminating all unfair distribution of resources, thereby ensuring all citizens can benefit appropriately from them;

· Launch Land Law promptly

We shall urge the government to:

i) launch the newly revised Land Law promptly, establish a public land allocation system in which the granting of land shall be primarily based on open tender, and ensure that the use of the granted land strictly complies with Macao’s overall urban planning policy;

ii) introduce the practice of examining the economic status, qualifications and credit of the applicant or transferee with regard to initial applications of land allocation and/or assignment of land grants;

iii) impose punitive premiums on grantees who fail to develop the land on schedule or who, after having been granted the land, apply for change of use;

iv) compulsorily requisition allocated land which has been left vacant for a long time to ensure valuable land resources can best serve the public interest.

· To improve the housing policy

We shall urge the government to immediately resume the acceptance of applications for economic housing and social housing to fulfil its commitment of building six thousand units of social housing within five years, and set the schedule allocating social houses to shortlist applicants to ease residents’ housing problems.

We shall urge the government to review the current housing policy and clearly define the nature of public housing resources to perfect the norms of buying and selling public housing, ensure there is sufficient public housing to meet the basic housing needs of residents, and establish private housing policies in order to provide local residents with decent living and working conditions.

· To perfect/improve the public transport system

We shall urge the government to:

i) implement the policy of public transport priority, to open more special lanes for public transport promptly, and reasonably increase the frequency of public bus services;

ii) dissolve the franchises of the two bus operators to ensure that new competitors can enter the Macao market and enjoy fair conditions;

iii) ensure that the benefits on public transport fares are restricted to local residents only;

iv) control the routes, frequency, locations of stops, and number of ‘hotel and casino shuttle buses’; to eradicate the chaotic management of the aforementioned shuttle buses and to limit their excessive number on our streets.

v) implement the construction of a pedestrian walkway system promptly;

vi) impose restrictions on the import of vehicles.

· To establish a responsible gambling policy

We shall urge the government to:

i) introduce legislation mandating all gambling places to withdraw from the community and mandate every single casino establish the facility of ‘cognitive gambling’;

ii) establish a special fund sponsored by gambling operators that corresponds to the number of gambling tables and slot machines in order to subsidise gambling counselling organisations and hotlines;

iii) increase efforts to train specialised gambling counselling staff to help pathological gamblers.

· To improve medical facilities

We shall urge the government to establish public hospital(s) in Taipa, and to co-operate with private medical institutions in providing night-time consultation services, particularly for women and for early childhood health services, so as to meet the needs of the great number of residents who work night shifts.

III. More comprehensive social security for the disadvantaged by evaluating and improving current policies and ensuring all resources are properly used;

· To refine the current social security system

In order to achieve social justice, a universally valued principle, we shall urge the government to fulfil its commitments promptly and launch a two-tiered social security system that combines both ‘Pension and Other Allowances Settlement System’ and ‘Central Provident Fund System’, and strive for a social security system that covers the benefits of all citizens, including housewives, caregivers, small-and-medium scale business entrepreneurs, and freelance workers.

· To improve the safety network and strengthen social security assistance for disadvantaged groups

We shall urge the government to:

i) set up a minimum living index and criteria on a scientific basis and establish an adjustment mechanism that enables flexible changes, providing basic and timely assistance for poor individuals and disadvantaged families who need such assistance, including low-income families, low-income women, and the unemployed;

ii) establish special allowances providing living and medical assistance for the disabled, the mentally handicapped and the chronically ill.

· To refine rehabilitation policies

We shall engage the government to:

i) formulate and implement regulations and policies of rehabilitation, and develop comprehensive barrier-free communities, including public transportation and special education for the physically disabled and mentally handicapped as soon as possible.

ii) provide more resources for early-stage special education, and assist the mentally handicapped to acquire independent living skills;

iii) foster civic education and eradicate discrimination, establishing a living environment and social culture that enables the disabled to integrate with the community.

· To strengthen support for the mentally ill

We shall urge the government to:

i) recruit a substantial number of psychiatric specialists and increase psychiatric hospitalisation so that all psychiatric patients may receive appropriate treatment;

ii) strengthen community support and assist ex-mentally ill persons to integrate into the community.

· To establish community psychological support service systems

We shall urge the government to strengthen psychological and mental health education by devoting more resources to the education system, the social service system and public medical institutions, to assist residents in strengthening their resolve in confronting society’s core challenges and setbacks, and establish a mechanism/system providing psychological consultation services to those in need.

· To establish a family planning service system

We shall urge the government to:

i) establish a system of family planning services, providing physical and psychological support to unmarried pregnant women or teenagers seeking abortions;

ii) provide Macao families with services such as sex education, sex counselling, family counselling, domestic violence prevention counselling, etc.

· To advocate/strive for more resources and care for the disabled

In addition to allocating more resources and providing residential care homes and facilities for the mentally handicapped, the physically disabled and ex-mentally ill, we will urge the government to launch living guidance(about philosophy or ethics?) and support services to assist the disabled.

IV. Invigorated cultural development by overhauling the funding system and improving cultural policies;

· To implement local cultural policy

We shall urge the government to:

i) launch local cultural policies formulated jointly by local artists and Macao residents,

ii) optimise, integrate, re-allocate and clarify the functions and resources concerning the cultural affairs of relevant departments - including the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, and the Sport Development Board - in order to eliminate the overlapping of resources and the occurrence whereby different departments pursue their own policies,

iii) review the current development of culture and art in Macao, and upon investigation and analysis, establish policies for long-term cultural development.

· To review the current funding system for cultural development

We shall urge the government to:

i) conduct a comprehensive review of the current funding practice for the development of culture;

ii) foster transparency in the subsidy system; and

iii) monitor the allocation and use of resources for cultural affairs, especially those of the Macao Foundation.

We shall urge the government to overturn the practice of allocating resources according to the will of senior officials in favour of establishing a reasonable, professional, fair, open and correct funding mechanism, promoting the establishment of a three-year subsidizing plan and a five-year subsidizing plan in order to assist private organisations and workers in the field of culture, as well as to conduct more phased, strategic development goals.

· To advocate a ‘Proportional System’ supporting the development of local arts groups

We shall urge the government to allow/sanction more opportunities for the development of local cultural workers by studying the feasibility of launching a ‘Proportional System’ to standardise governmental and commercial institutions’ outsourcing or purchasing policies for culture, and promote the development of local literary publications/works visual and performing arts.

· To establish a Library Law

We shall urge the government to introduce legislation for the development of libraries

in order to:

i) establish a sound/comprehensive library system and effective management mechanism/system;

ii) promote the establishment of an independent and professional library system that can be integrated into the community;

iii) optimise the allocation and use of resources and staff; and

iv) ultimately promote reading habits among the whole community and pursue lifelong learning.

· To formulate legislation encouraging private enterprises to establish a cultural foundation

We shall urge the government to formulate legislation and implement measures such as tax breaks or tax relief in order to encourage more private enterprises to establish scholarships and foundations for cultural development, thereby fulfilling corporate social responsibility, as well as assisting and promoting the long-term development of local culture. arts and literature.

· To establish a mechanism for facilitating the development of creative industries

We shall urge the government to:

i) encourage the public to become involved in the setting up of strategies for the development of creative industries that conform to Macao’s status quo/existing conditions/practical conditions;

ii) set up a system for the development of such industries which integrates the industrial, governmental and academic sectors;

iii) establish a co-operative and supportive platform among cultural industries;

iv) integrate cultural creativity, tax financing, intellectual property protection, manufacturing, marketing, advertising, logistics and other related areas;

v) establish development funds for cultural industries; and

vi) foster the development of the creative industries in Macao by professional and pragmatic means.

· To develop social enterprises promoting cultural affairs

We seek to foster co-operation between social enterprises and the cultural industry by urging the government to set up relevant policies encouraging Macao artists and administrators to establish a social enterprise related to cultural affairs. This would entail the establishment of artwork exhibition spaces such as local arts/creativity centres and galleries, providing tax and legal consultation services, and assisting local artists to develop their creative competencies into industries capable of sustainable development.

· To introduce public arts into city space

We shall urge the government to set a policy in its urban planning to apportion spaces for cultural facilities and public arts, requiring all large-scale construction projects of governmental or commercial institutions to utilise a certain proportion of resources in purchasing local artistic works or commissioning local artists.

V. Innovative educational reform by confronting existing societal challenges and promoting ‘whole person’ development;

· To promote creativity and art education

We shall:

i) reform the education system to achieve student-oriented education;

ii) seek to create a learning environment that encourages creativity by initiating creative, cultural, and artistic education from the primary Level;

iii) promote artists-in-residence and artists-in-schools programmes to equip new generations with creativity, conceptual thinking capacity, and competitiveness.

· To build more children’s cultural facilities

In order to enhance parent-child relationships as well as the cultural standards of teenagers and children, we shall urge the government to:

i) build more children’s cultural and recreational facilities, such as children’s parks, children’s theatres and youth activity centres in accordance with the distribution of the population; and

ii) increase expenditure for cultural facilities and resources for children and teenagers.

· To assist students in achieving all-round learning competence

We shall urge the government to expeditiously establish the framework for non-tertiary education courses as well as the basic competence requirement for all disciplines in order to reduce the differences in courses between schools and ultimately ensure students to acquire all-round development and various learning skills.

· To implement the small-class teaching policy

We shall urge the government to immediately set the schedule for the implementation of small-class teaching and reduce all class sizes to 25 students so that all students can benefit from appropriate education and care.

· To promote local civic education

In order to ensure students have sufficient knowledge of Macao culture, we shall urge the government to:

i) promote local civic education;

ii) provide financial support for the composition and publication of textbooks on local history, geography, social culture and civic education; and

iii) standardise the number of hours to be spent on local civic education.

· To disclose the schools’ expenditure of public funds

In order to ensure all school personnel can enjoy reasonable fixed salaries and fringe benefits, as well as guarantee that all subsidised private-school teachers can enjoy a reasonable, dignified, respectable, focused and reassuring teaching environment, we shall urge the government to:

i) request schools to disclose their accounts regarding the use of public funds so that the public can monitor and ensure the proper utilisation of such funds;

ii) establish a database containing information on salary and benefits of teaching staff in private schools that receive government subsidies; and

iii) review the principles of various teaching subsidies.

· To enhance teaching quality

In order to reduce cross-subject teaching, relieve teachers’ pressure and enhance teaching quality,we shall urge the government to:

i) review and improve both pre-service and in-service training for teachers in order to increase the number of teachers who major in education; and

ii) provide more professional training opportunities for teachers in order to cultivate the professional development of teachers of all disciplines.

· To implement an Institutional Framework for Private-School Teaching Personnel

We shall urge the authorities to expedite the implementation of an Institutional Framework for Private-School Teaching Personnel and strive to reduce the lesson hours of primary and secondary school teachers from the 30-plus periods per week to less than 20 periods per week so that teachers can have more time to prepare for lessons and correct assignments, thereby contributing more effectively and productively to the overall quality of education.

· To prohibit the immersion of the gambling industry in the community

We shall urge the government to:

i) enact legislation to prohibit the gambling industry from immersing into the community in order to reduce the negative impact of gambling on society and the youth in particular;

ii) prohibit slot machine centres/arcades and betting stations from operating near schools; and

iii) require all gambling centres (e.g. casinos, slot machine centres and betting stations) to set up checkpoints at entrances to prohibit people under the age of 21 from entering.

· To combat the harmful impact of drugs on young people

We shall urge the government to:

i) eradicate drug sources and combat cross-border drug abuse and the marketing network of drugs;

ii) review current legislation to tackle the source of the drug abuse related problems and make best efforts in reducing the harmful impact of drugs on adolescence and society.

· To improve the welfare system for children and teenagers

In order to enable children and teenagers to enjoy a healthy and safe growing environment as well as assist families, children and teenagers in interpersonal and family conflicts, we shall urge the government to initiate ‘Restorative Justice’.

· To establish comprehensive youth policies

In order to ensure the all-round development of the youth, we shall urge the government to:

i) establish comprehensive youth policies, ensuring that the voices of young people are not ignored in policy-making;

ii) conduct continual comprehensive research on youth-related issues that look into the impact of societal changes on adolescents ;

iii) promote co-operation between governmental departments, educational institutions and social service organisations in order to provide better moral education, sex education and liberal education for young people;

iv) reform current policies on the subsidization of civic organisations’/NGOs’, so that such organisations can provide better rehabilitation/therapy and youth development services.

· To raise overall competitiveness of youth

We shall urge the government to:

i) encourage enterprises to fulfil their social responsibilities, providing internships and more training opportunities for the youth;

ii) set up programmes that can equip the youth with international perspectives and raise their overall competitiveness in the face of global competition.

· To establish support mechanisms for tertiary students/a system to support tertiary students

We shall urge the government to set up a mechanism/system which provides timely assistance such as (e.g. financial aid, emergency medical treatment or psychological counselling, etc.)to support local tertiary students who study abroad.

· To offer more scholarships and financial aid to tertiary students

We shall urge the government and tertiary education institutions to offer more scholarships and financial aid so as to provide more economic support to competent local students who wish to pursue tertiary education; in so doing, we hope such students will not be deprived of the opportunity to receive tertiary education due to financial difficulties.

· To review tertiary education policies

We shall urge the government to review the direction of the development of tertiary education, and re-establish the principles and system of subsiding of private and public universities.

VI. More qualified professionals by establishing qualification attainment schemes and professional assessment policy;

· To conduct consultation on verification of various professional qualifications

We shall urge the government to expedite public consultations among industries on the verification standards and assessment mechanisms/system for various professional qualifications so as to

i) ensure the establishment of professional accreditation systems in line with international standards;

ii) provide/foster more training that will produce more professional locals; and

iii) improve the overall professional standard of various industries in Macao.

To establish a professional teacher accreditation system

We shall urge the government to:

i) set up a professional teacher accreditation system in order to raise their professional standard and social status as well as maintain their professional autonomy;

ii) refine the education consultation system in order to protect the interests and rights of teachers, by requiring the Education Council/Department under the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau to accommodate non-supervisory teaching positions and ensure that such positions make up at least a quarter of all positions.

· To establish a professional accreditation system for specialised school personnel

We shall urge the government to refine the professional accreditation system for specialised school personnel (i.e. IT (information technology) educational personnel, school medical personnel, extra-curricular activity coordinator, reading promoters, and laboratory technician) under the government subsidy scheme, clearly defining their job nature in order to ensure their relevance and professionalism as well as the fact that they can enjoy reasonable welfare benefits and remuneration; in addition the appropriate use of susidies can be monitored.

· To initiate a registration system for social work professionals

In order to enhance professional training, ensure professional autonomy as well as raise social status of social work professionals, we shall urge the government to:

i) expedite the establishment of a registration system for social work professionals, supporting the development of professional supervision; and

ii) monitor the appropriate use of susidies and improve remuneration.

· To initiate a registration system for architects, engineers and urban planners

We shall urge the government to expedite the establishment of a registration system for professionals such as architects, engineers and urban planners in order to ensure that local professionals can participate in large-scale local projects and develop professionally.

· To provide additional professional training to medical workers

We shall urge the government to:

i) establish a unified/standardized? training system for registered medical practitioners to accelerate the training of local specialists and support local doctors in their pursuit of continuing professional training;

ii) actively promote the professional development of medical personnel such as pharmacists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, etc..

· To establish a professional certification system for gambling personnel

We shall urge the government to establish a system which certifies gambling personnel and require gambling enterprises to finance/fund personnel in their professional training, in order to ensure such personnel have professional capability and competence to personal development.

VII. More justice for civil servants by eliminating cronyism and reforming the civil service;

· To reform the career system of civil servants

In order to eliminate unfair, unreasonable and unscientific arrangements regarding the career system of civil servants, we shall urge the government to restructure its current reform practice of such system,as well as the existing miscellaneous systems of appointment and management of civil servants in different departments, thereby enacting a unified, systematic and forward-looking law for civil servants.

· To conduct a centralized recruitment system

We shall urge the government to unify the recruitment of civil servants of all ranks to ensure all citizens who wish to serve the community can enter the civil service under a fair mechanism/system.

· To enact legislation governing administrative ethic of civil servants

We shall urge the government to expeditiously enact legislation governing the administrative and ethic management of civil servants, especially those at supervisory level, in order to eliminate corruption issues such as extravagance, abuse of public funds, transfer of benefits, etc.

· To promote litigation assistance mechanism/system for civil servants

We shall urge the government to expedite the establishment of a litigation foundation and legal assistance mechanism/system, providing full legal protection to civil servants who incur legal proceedings against them while on duty.

· To protect civil servants’ right to file complaints

In order to ensure that complaints raised by civil servants receive reasonable protection, officals are prevented from abusing power and eliminating all opportunities for corruption, we shall urge the government to immediately amend legislation and set up a system protecting civil servants’ rights to make complaints and subsequently further empowering the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) in dealing with/punishing those who perpetrate violations in public administrative areas.

· To promote a system of appointing supervisory civil servants by open examination (by the Examination Committee)

We shall urge the government to abolish the current unscientific and irrational terms of appointment of supervisory-level civil servants (division head and department head) and adopt open examinations to recruit capable candidates so that all competent civil servants may enjoy equal opportunities to bring their talents into full play in the service of the community.

· To encourage lateral mobility of supervisory personnel

We shall urge the government to implement a scheme enabling supervisory and leadership-level civil servants to mobilize laterally in order to prevent civil servants from working in the same department at length and so fully utilise each civil servant’s capabilities, enhance civil servants’ initiative and allow them to bring their skills into full play for effective contributions to society.

· To amend the provident fund management system

In order to assure the retirement pensions of civil servants, we shall urge the government to:

i) immediately improve the current provident fund management system;

ii) broaden the investment scope which is currently limited to European and American stocks and bonds;

iii) introduce more fund companies so that civil servants may enjoy more options in managing their investment; and

iv) restructure the current ossified investment proportions/portfolio and regulations in which civil servants can only change their investment proportion/portfolio four times per year.

VIII. Improved economic system by eradicating vested interest monopolies and developing an honest/healthy market;

· To establish a financial reserve system

We shall urge the government to immediately establish a financial reserve system, in order to provide stable financial security for citizens’ essentials such as education, medical assistance, and social welfare.

· To cancel the monopoly franchise system

We shall urge the government to gradually cancel the monopoly franchise system (for such utilities as the electricity, water, and telecommunication services, as well as for fresh goods supply) that impedes the development of the society, in order to relieve residents’ burden and improve Macao’s business environment, while raising the competitiveness of enterprises.

· To promote/set up/enact legislation of Fair Competition Law

We shall urge the government to establish a ‘Fair Competition Committee’ and begin to enact a Fair Competition Law in order to prevent large enterprises from obstructing, restricting or distorting competition by abusing their advantages, and to assure the development opportunities of small and medium-sized enterprises.

· To impose a Foreign Labour Levy on enterprises employing foreign workers

We shall urge the government to fulfil its commitment made in 2005 - to impose a Foreign Labour Levy on enterprises that employ foreign workers - and provide aid to local workers with the funds received.

· To ensure local workers are given priority in filling job vacancies

In order to ensure local workers are given priority in entering the employment market and small and medium-sized corporations can share the foreign labour quota, we shall urge the government to:

i) increase the transparency of policy on the import of foreign labour;

ii) establish a mechanism/system for foreign labour entrance and withdrawal;

iii) study the introduction of the foreign labour policy ‘Dependency Ceiling’ (which regulates the proportion of foreign to local workers); and

iv) strictly regulate the proportion and number of low-skilled foreign labour imported by large enterprises.

· To establish a business-development-loan fund for youth

We shall urge the government to establish a youth business-development-loan fund, organise professional scholars to offer counselling services to the youth, as well as establish a mechanism/system for training and assisting them to develop their businesses.

· To position Macao as a global centre for tourism and recreation

Since Macao is positioned as a global centre for tourism and recreation in accordance with The Outline of the Plan for the Reform and Development of the Pearl River Delta (2008-2020), we shall urge the government to expeditiously restructure the functions of the Macao Special Administrative Region Economic Services (DSE), the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), and the Macao Government Tourist Office (MGTO) in order to enhance Macao’s competitiveness in the Pearl River Delta and clearly implement Macao’s positioning outlined by the nation.

· To review the commercial and trade service platform policy

In order to fully develop Macao’s advantages, we shall urge the government to seriously consider allocating resources and review the commercial and trade service platform policy, especially the development of Sino-Portuguese commercial and trade platforms.

· To launch 24-hour customs and immigration services

We shall urge the government to expedite the implementation of a 24-hour customs and immigration services at the Mainland border in order to remove the obstacles to economic integration between Macao and Guangdong, facilitate visitor flow and logistics flow, as well as promote trade development.

· To review gambling regulations

We shall urge the government to:

i) conduct a comprehensive review of the current gambling control regulations and enhance the management of the gambling industry;

ii) professionalize inspectors and reform internal monitoring.

· To establish a gambling arbitration commission

We shall urge the government to adjust the functions of the Gambling Inspection and Co-ordination Bureau and establish an arbitrative gambling commission, assigning the former to investigate money laundering and other improper acts and the latter to conduct arbitration.

IX. Enhanced living environment for Macao by safe-guarding the collective memories of its citizens and building a green city;

· To implement legislation of cultural heritage preservation

We shall urge the government to:

i) expedite the implementation of legislation for cultural heritage preservation and refine the details of such legislation, including the cultural heritage preservation list and the assessment criteria of cultural heritage;

ii) enhance the professionalism, independence, rationality and representative nature of the Cultural Heritage Department [proper name unknown] as well as the statutory power of the Department to ensure the effective implementation of Macao’s cultural heritage conservation policy.

· To formulate legislation supporting urban planning

We shall urge the government to establish legislation and supporting regulations for urban planning in order to prevent economic development from damaging the cultural fabric of the city, preserve the cultural heritage landscape, optimise city space, and reconstruct a living environment that belongs to the people of Macao.

· To foster urban revitalisation

In order to revitalise the city’s environment, improve the community’s leisure and recreational facilities, and subsequently enhance the living quality of residents who live in old urban areas, we shall urge the government to expedite the establishment of legislation and measures regarding urban renewal.

· To build a green city

We shall urge the government to:

i) amend the law in order to strengthen law enforcement and have stricter control and supervision over noise, light pollution, air pollution, cooking fume emission, etc;

ii) impose a plastic bag levy and support enterprises that promote environmental protection;

iii) expeditiously enact a Smoking Prohibition Legislation so as to ban smoking in all public areas;

iv) advocate waste separation and recycle measures;

v) advocate a greener means of travelling by studying the feasibility of constructing cycling paths throughout the whole city, encouraging walking , as well as introducing environmentally-friendly vehicles;

vi) enact legislation which carries a provision for attractive tax rates for businesses dealing with environmental protection.

· To enact legislation on the protection/conservation of trees

In order to prevent any form of indiscriminate felling of trees , we shall urge the government to:

i) formulate tree protection/conservation regulations to protect/conserve all trees, including those located on public and private land,

ii) establish a ‘Green Proportion’ in urban planning,

iii) record all trees in Macao and produce conservation guidelines.

· To retain the present site of University of Macau

i) In order to preserve the cultural landscape representing Macao’s tertiary education in the modern era, protect Macao citizens’ collective memory, as well as foster a sense of belonging among locals/citizens , we strive to retain the present site of the University of Macau as a place to accommodate the major facilities of the University.

ii) We shall urge the government to disclose the planning details of the construction of the University of Macau on Hengqin Island as well as the criterion of the use of public funds so as to foster transparency and public participation in the project.

· To enact an animal protection legislation

We shall urge the government to:

i) enact Animal Protection Legislation to protect the rights and interests of animals;

ii) conduct a comprehensive review of the current General Regulations on Government Public Places in order to protect the rights and interests of pets and pet owners, promote the concept of being a responsible pet owner and subsequently build the city into a modern and civilized place where humans and animals co-exist harmoniously.

X. Proactive future for Macao by arousing its people to build a society of civic-minded citizens

· To protect the civil rights of Macao citizens

We shall monitor and ensure that the government:

i) implements the International Covenant of Human Rights and the Basic Law; and

ii) does not deprive the rights and freedoms entitlement to all citizens for any reason in order to ensure that the civil rights of all citizens are substantially protected.

· To boost civic education

We shall urge the government to:

i) boost the civic education of the whole city/Macao-wide, arouse citizens’ awareness of protecting their own rights while respecting other people’s entitled rights, and raise citizens’ consciousness in protecting their homeland;

ii) review the current subsidization policies and put more efforts in the promotion of civic education.

· To promote a civil society/society of civic-minded citizens

In order for individuals to grow alongside with society and to cultivate Macao into a diverse, rational and mature civil society that can confront the challenges of international competition and regional cohesion, we shall urge the government to:

i) set up a ‘Civil Society Index’/an index which measures the civic awareness of citizens in line with international standards,

ii) encourage public institutions to co-operate with social organisations and come up with actions/measures that facilitate the development of a civil society.