[Commentary] On April 20, the Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, He Yicheng, published his first policy address in the Legislative Council, and answered questions from members of the Legislative Council on the contents of the policy address on April 21. In the policy address, he pointed out that he will play the role of financial adjustment means to deal with the epidemic, increase expenditure, reduce taxes and fees, and expand investment to achieve the goal of "guaranteeing employment, stabilizing the economy, and caring for the people's livelihood".

　　[Explanation] He Yicheng introduced that due to the impact of the epidemic, 2020 will be the first deficit fiscal year since Macao's return. Macao's industries and sectors are facing difficulties and challenges, and it is expected that the economy will drop significantly throughout the year. Among them, the gaming tourism industry bears the brunt.

　　[Same period] He Yicheng, Chief Executive of Macau Special Administrative Region

　　From January to February this year, the number of inbound tourists was 3,069,900, a year-on-year decrease of 56.9%; from January to March, lucky gaming gross income was 30.49 billion patacas, a year-on-year decrease of 60%.

　　[Commentary] He Yicheng said that the Macao SAR government ’s spending on responding to the epidemic will exceed 50 billion patacas. During the anti-epidemic period, increase financial expenditures and reduce taxes and fees; after the epidemic has eased, speed up the approval of engineering projects, enable construction companies to resume work as soon as possible, and at the same time launch the "block beautification support project" to create job opportunities.

　　[Explanation] For the economic improvement after the epidemic, the SAR government will adopt four measures to increase public investment, promote the recovery of the comprehensive tourism and leisure industry, encourage private investment and increase investment attraction, and assist small and medium-sized enterprises. He Yicheng emphasized that the gambling tourism industry is "one industry flourishing, and hundreds of industries flourishing", and it is necessary to strengthen the assistance of the gambling tourism industry through the epidemic.

　　[Same period] He Yicheng, Chief Executive of Macau Special Administrative Region

　　Bring the tourism bureau into the economic and financial category to better promote the joint development of tourism and other industries. Appropriate time to request the central government to resume the approval of the Mainland tourism visa endorsement, increase the freedom of travel cities, and negotiate with Guangdong Province to relax the Guangdong residents to Australia tourism endorsement policy to resume tourism development. Before the epidemic situation is basically stable and the mainland ’s endorsement of Macao visas has not yet been restored, it will promote Macao residents ’“ local travel ”and“ Hengqin and neighboring areas ”tourism activities to deepen the Macao residents’ understanding of Macao ’s world cultural heritage and attractions and Hengqin. Increase the number of festivals and events, and implement relevant incentive measures to encourage residents in neighboring areas to come to Australia for tourism and consumption, especially for staying in Australia to spend overnight.

　　[Commentary] As of April 21, there have been no new imported cases in Macau for 13 days. In this case, can mainland residents travel to and from Macau conveniently? At the plenary meeting of the Legislative Council that day, He Yicheng said that a "health code" suitable for Macao people has been researched and developed. To facilitate exchanges, the mutual recognition of the "health code" must be negotiated with the mainland.

　　[Same period] He Yicheng, Chief Executive of Macau Special Administrative Region

　　He wants to recognize our code, we have to recognize his "health code" for travelers from the Mainland, it is not that simple. We are already developing relevant work in this area. I hope that in the near future we will reach mutual agreement. For example, our foreign employees in the Mainland can use the Mainland's "health code" to report to the community. Can he not leave Guangdong?

　　[Explanation] He Yicheng said that in the face of the epidemic situation, the government and all sectors of society must recognize the difficulties and challenges, and neither should be taken lightly nor pessimistic.

　　[Same period] He Yicheng, Chief Executive of Macau Special Administrative Region

　　This epidemic is a big test for the government and all residents. We believe that short-term impact will not change the trend of medium- and long-term development. The epidemic will eventually pass, and everything will eventually return to the right track. Has changed.

　　Wen Mengxin reports from Beijing

Editor in charge: [Wang Kai]