The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today announced a string of measures ranging from financial support for the general public and target groups to recommence accepting applications for Home-Ownership Scheme Housing and public rental housing in the first quarter of next year. Mr Chui disclosed these measures in his Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2013, entitled 'Enhance the Well-being of Society and Prepare for Long-term Development', delivered at the Legislative Assembly this afternoon. He announced extending measures, including another injection of 6,000 patacas into the individual central savings account of each eligible Macao citizen: all permanent residents would also receive 8,000 patacas and non-permanent residents 4,800 patacas in the Wealth Partaking Scheme. The amount on medical vouchers would go up from 500 patacas to 600 patacas, old-age allowance from 5,000 patacas to 6,000 patacas, and monthly pension from 2,000 patacas to 3,000 patacas. For employees and middle-income groups, the reduction in personal income tax would be raised from 25 per cent to 30 per cent. The Government would also offer a rebate of 60 per cent in personal income tax paid by Macao residents this year, to be capped at 12,000 patacas and to be rebated in 2014. The study allowance for Macao citizens studying in a tertiary education programme will be increased from 2,000 patacas to 3,000 patacas, textbook allowances for all secondary and primary school students to be increased from 1,900 patacas to 2,400 patacas, and the allowances for children in kindergartens from 1,500 patacas to 2,000 patacas. These initiatives, described above, would cost the Government 9.78 billion patacas. In his annual policy blueprint, Mr Chui pledged to develop a 'long-term mechanism for effective administration' which would become policies in four categories -- housing, social security, medical and healthcare services, and education. On housing, Mr Chui said the construction of 19,000 public housing units previously announced would soon be completed and that the Government had begun allocating them to families on the waiting list. He announced that the Government would recommence accepting applications for Home-Ownership Scheme Housing and public rental housing in the first quarter of next year. The Government would also adjust the income ceiling for Home-Ownership Scheme Housing to make 80 per cent of the people of Macao qualify to apply. It would also reserve more land for public housing in addition to the previously announced programme of 6,300 units, plus establishing a mechanism to receive regular applications for public housing, including waiting time. The Government would reserve land for public housing at Reclaimed Zone A where reclamation work is expected to be completed by 2015 to produce 137.8 hectares of land. The Government would also study the public's views on a "Macao property for Macao residents" policy and conduct research in the laws required to support this. Speaking on social security, Mr Chui said the Government would inject 37 billion patacas into the Social Security Fund between 2013 and 2016, and also maintain monthly pensions to more than the minimum subsistence index. It would also earmark 910 million patacas to subsidise 43 community service centres that would come into operation between 2013 and 2015. The government would also provide free health services through a primary healthcare network to all citizens of Macao. Specialist medical services and rehabilitation services would be extended free of charge to more than 80 per cent of patients in public hospitals. The Government would provide long-term subsidies to 13 non-profit health service organisations, to benefit almost 500,000 people per year. It would also allocate 10 billion patacas to implement the Plan for Perfecting the Medical and Healthcare System to establish a more effective medical system by 2020, including new health centres and a medical complex. For disadvantaged families, the Government would extend the Short-term Food Assistance Programme from six weeks to eight weeks. On enhancing education, the Government would increase the budget for non-tertiary education, the Education Development Fund and the Student Welfare Fund in 2013 to 2015 by 26 per cent, 25.7 per cent and 35.2 per cent respectively. The Government would also ease the requirements and limits for student loan applicants to support Macao residents enrolling for education programmes at tertiary level or above, and to increase the loans to 4,500 patacas. Student loans and scholarships would also be increased to a maximum of 4,500 patacas per month and special bursaries to a maximum of 5,400 patacas per month. Mr Chui said the Government had established a comprehensive human resources database for all enrolments for tertiary institutions by Macao citizens. The database could provide reference to evaluate the need for specific skills and talents and to formulate human resources policies in Macao. Speaking on the economy, Mr Chui said it would continue to adequately diversify Macao's economic portfolio by promoting the convention and exhibition sector, the cultural and creative industries and strengthen support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Government would introduce an interest-free loan scheme for young entrepreneurs, with a ceiling of 300,000 patacas and a maximum loan tenure of eight years. It had already started work with Hengqin authorities to make special arrangements for Macao's SMEs in major development projects on the island. As regards to environmental protection, the Government planned to formulate a subsidy scheme of about 400 million patacas to encourage replacement of highly polluting vehicles, and would introduce Macao's first electric bus route in Taipa.
