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Tony Cheung

President Xi Jinping may have been sending a veiled reminder to Hong Kong on Friday as he urged the new government in Macau to solve livelihood issues ranging from housing to health care, observers said.
But Beijing’s top leaders were also aware that Hong Kong’s challenges were tougher and different from those facing the casino hub, they said.
On Friday morning, Xi again praised Macau for its implementation of “one country, two systems” and improvements to the city’s economy in the past 20 years.
“Macau’s per capita gross domestic product has jumped to the second highest in the world,” he said.
But Xi urged Macau’s new government, under Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng, to continue to improve governance and living standards.
“The special administrative region needs to actively respond to the people’s complaints, solve prominent issues in housing, health care and [elderly] care, and scale up help for the vulnerable,” he said.
“To foster a better living environment and higher quality of life, Macau should combine its development needs and the people’s needs and improve public infrastructure relating to transport, energy, environmental protection, information and law and order.”
The assessment came just days after the central government called on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor “to study with urgency the deep-rooted conflicts and problems in Hong Kong’s socioeconomic development”.


Antonio Ng Kuok-cheong, a pro-democracy member of Macau’s Legislative Assembly, said Xi’s remarks signalled the central government’s concern about the housing shortage in the casino hub.
“Just like Hong Kong, we also have a lot of subdivided flats in Macau. Many workers live in those units,” he said.
But Ng said he was not worried about the new administration’s ability to build more affordable homes.
“In recent years, the government has taken back dozens of sites and made plans for land reclamation, so it won’t be too difficult for Ho to achieve something in that regard.”
Traffic congestion was a bigger headache for the new government and, in terms of health care, residents wanted more medical clinics built in Taipa and Coloane, Ng said.
But Macau Economic Association vice-president Ieong Tou-hong said Macau’s public health sector needed more than just clinics.
“Compared with Hong Kong, we do not have enough specialist doctors and surgeons,” said Ieong, who was sworn in on Friday as an adviser in Ho’s cabinet, the Executive Council.
“It’s a lot of trouble for families to send elderly relatives to hospitals for check-ups. If we can train more family doctors and set up more night clinics, it would really help.”
Ieong said Xi would have had Hong Kong in mind during his address, but as a city with a population of more than 7 million, Hong Kong would need much more financial resources to solve its problems.
Raymond Chan Yuk-ming, a member of the Hong Kong Housing Authority, said that while Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China had been plagued by a housing shortage, Hong Kong’s political climate made the problem more complicated.
“Officials in Beijing understand the challenges facing the Hong Kong government when it comes to housing,” Chan said, adding that activist groups had strongly opposed Hong Kong’s plan to reclaim land or develop country park land for housing.


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Macau

Hong Kong rumbles in background as Xi Jinping urges Macau to tackle housing and health

Chinese President Xi Jinping (right) and new Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng (left) mark the 20th anniversary of the former Portuguese colony’s return to China, in Macau, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds up ‘one country, two systems’ as only way forward for Hong Kong and Macau

President Xi Jinping (right) with Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng said Macau’s achievements showed the importance of belief in one country, two systems. Photo: Bloomberg

(191218) -- MACAO, Dec. 18, 2019 (Xinhua) -- China's national flags and flags of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) are seen along a road in Macao, south China, Dec. 17, 2019. Over the past two decades, the special administrative region has made great strides in economic development and achieved prosperity and stability under the "one country, two systems" principle. (Xinhua/Wang Shen)

Xi Jinping, China's president, gives a speech during an inauguration ceremony in Macau, China, on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. Xi praised the work of Macau's government in maintaining stability on Friday as the former Portuguese colony celebrates the 20-year anniversary of its return to Chinese rule. Photographer: Justin Chin/Bloomberg

Macau handover anniversary: Xi Jinping begins visit by heaping praise on city for sticking to ‘one country, two systems’ policy

President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at Macau's international airport. Photo: AFP

China's President Xi Jinping greets children waving the flags of China and Macau upon his arrival at Macau's international airport in Macau on December 18, 2019, ahead of celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the handover from Portugal to China. - Chinese president Xi Jinping landed in Macau on December 18 as the city prepares to mark 20 years since the former Portuguese colony was returned, a celebration that stands in stark contrast to months of unrest in neighbouring Hong Kong. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

Activists of the League of Social Democrats were denied entry to Macau even before they boarded on turbojet, at Sheung Wan. 18DEC19 SCMP/ May Tse

People stand in front of a poster celebrating the 20th anniversary of the former Portuguese colony's return to China, in Macau, China December 17, 2019. REUTERS/Jason Lee

An Air China aircraft carrying Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at Macau International Airport in Macau, China December 18, 2019, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the former Portuguese colony's return to China. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Xi Jinping seen as indirectly lecturing Hong Kong as he tells Macau residents to make ‘positive voices’ heard and resolve problems with rationality

President Xi Jinping (centre), outgoing Macau leader Fernando Chui (second left) and incoming chief Ho Iat-seng (second right) join performers onstage during a show in the city. Photo: Reuters

President Xi Jinping chats with college students from countries covered in the ÒBelt and RoadÓ initiative.Photo: Macao Government Information Bureau

This handout photo from the Hong Kong Information Services Department (ISD) taken and released on December 19, 2019, shows Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam (L) shaking hands with China's President Xi Jinping ahead a meeting in Macau. - Chinese President Xi Jinping lavished praise on Macau on December 19 for instilling patriotism and rejecting political strife, in stark contrast to his tough words for neighbouring Hong Kong as it convulses with unrest. (Photo by Handout / Hong Kong Information Services Department / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Hong Kong Information Services Department" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

President Xi Jinping pays a visit to the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex.Photo: Macao Government Information Bureau

An image of China's President Xi Jinping is displayed on a screen during the "Passion of Macao, Heart of China" variety show in Macau on December 19, 2019, ahead of the 20th anniversary of the handover from Portugal to China. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

President Xi Jinping tours the Portuguese-speaking Countries Food Products Exhibition Centre.Photo: Macao Government Information Bureau

South China Morning Post reporter denied entry into Macau to cover Xi Jinping’s visit for 20th anniversary handover celebrations

Reporter Phila Siu showing the written statement by officers, which alleged there were ‘strong signs’ he was trying to engage in activities that would ‘jeopardise the public safety and public order’ in Macau.

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But Beijing would be well aware of the differences in the challenges facing the two special administrative regions, observers say



But Beijing would be well aware of the differences in the challenges facing the two special administrative regions, observers say.


Xi Jinping

Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor

Hong Kong rumbles in background as Xi Jinping urges Macau to tackle housing and health

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} But Beijing would be well aware of the differences in the challenges facing the two special administrative regions, observers say

But Beijing would be well aware of the differences in the challenges facing the two special administrative regions, observers say