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AL Gives Initial Green Light to Rent Control Mechanism P2

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AL Gives Initial Green Light to Rent Control Mechanism P2 CHINA-COMPATIBLE CHINA’S AIR IMPROVES JOSEPH E-MONEY CARDS SOON THIS YEAR LAU BUYS Local smart card service Some experts, officials and USD48.5M provider Macau Pass is observers see the improvement DIAMOND slated to issue a new range as the start of a long-term of cards next January upward trend in air quality P3 P6 P10 Fri.13 Nov 2015 T. 21º/ 24º C H. 80/ 95% Blackberry email service powered by CTM MOP 5.00 2438 N.º HKD 7.50 FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” WORLD BRIEFS CHINA Communist AL gives initial green light leaders allow China’s biggest corporate bond default yet in a fresh sign of wrenching economic P2 change as growth slows to rent control mechanism and Beijing gives market forces a bigger role in its financial system. AFGHANISTAN Protests calling for better security in Afghanistan break out in several cities a day after a crowd estimated at 10,000 descended on the presidential palace in Kabul in response to the brutal killings of seven people from the minority Hazara ethnic group. AP PHOTO P5 INDIA-UK Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Britain for a visit that will see him address Parliament, lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and sign billions in business deals with India’s former colonial ruler, now an eager economic suitor. AUSTRALIA Apple faces accusations of racism in Australia after a group of black teenagers was asked to leave a store in Melbourne when a staffer INTERVIEW WITH FRANCIS LUI expressed concern they would shoplift. AUSTRALIA Seven ‘Non-gaming men blamed for a riot that caused 10 million Australian dollars elements will take (USD7 million) damage to a remote Australian immigration detention up a larger share camp have been flown to a mainland prison. of the market’ P4,5 More on backpage INSIDE 13.11.2015 fri th Anniversary 2 MACAU 澳聞 Renato Marques HE Legislative Assembly T(AL) approved a joint propo- AL gives initial green light sal by nine of its lawmakers to es- tablish a new rental control me- chanism alongside an arbitration to rent control mechanism center for rent-related disputes. The amendment to the Civil Code to introduce new rent re- countries that have market-ba- gulations is aimed at market sta- sed economies. Legislator Song BUDGET EXECUTION bilization. One of the measures Pek Kei, who presented the pro- REPORTS PRESENTED proposed will be a rental control posal to the plenary, said, “Deve- mechanism with a rate based on loped places like Germany and a coefficient set by the Chief Exe- New York have practiced rental THE COMMISSION of Audit’s Budget Execution Report and cutive according to the consumer control. We may learn that the the Report of the General Ac- price index and housing market free market is compatible with count for 2014 were presented rental control.” conditions. The amendment was to the AL. The first highlighted Replying to the questions of approved at first reading with that despite the fall registered in 28 votes in favor. It will now be the legislators Ms Song clari- the Q3 of 2014 the government’s subject to an article-by-article fied that “these measures do not ordinary integrated account discussion by an AL standing Song Pek Kei presents the joint rent control proposal to the plenary mean taking control of every- registered a very positive bal- thing. It is just a establishment ance of MOP94.8 billion. The committee. tive. “How large is the impact of a higher limit” that aims to Aggregated accounts from the The debate was lengthy, with of the rental control to the free “stabilize the market”. Special Entities likewise reached multiple interventions from se- market economy? Looking at Leonel Alves also took the use an amount of MOP17.5 billion, Developed veral legislators, most of them the cons, will this measure hin- of the word to explain that rent continuing to show a healthy per- sharing worries regarding the der the development of the real controls are not new in Macau formance. The Commissioner of places like possibility of this new mecha- estate [sector]? Will it decrease and that successive governments Audit, Ho Veng On, also present- nism interfering with Macau’s foreign investment, and develo- and governors in the past have ed the General Account Report Germany and established free market rules. pers may construct fewer buil- used them in order to input dy- that presents revenues, expenses New York have Chan Chak Mo was one of the dings?” he asked. namism in the market when nee- and assets of MOP161.9 billion, legislators who raised questions, On the other hand several ded. He cited the example of the MOP67.1 billion, and MOP246.9 practiced rental namely regarding prospective lawmakers recalled that rent measure that allowed residency billion respectively. article number 999, about rent control laws and mechanisms are authorizations to non-residents control. updates based on the coefficient common procedures everywhere based on real estate investments, SONG PEK KEI approved by the Chief Execu- in the world and especially in an opinion also shared by the le- gislator Pereira Coutinho. Another related measure co- vers the establishment of an ar- bitration center that will try to Lawmakers want taxi service adapted to smartphone era provide mediation of rent related disputes in order to avoid such HE taxi service was one of the topics Although referring to the positive side of Ella Lei also picked up the topic, saying, cases filling the courts. Tmost highlighted during the spoken such a service, Mr Chui said, “In order to “Recently, the Uber application for trans- In order to increase transparen- enquiries period. Regarding Uber and operate in Macau, this system must com- portation hiring generated conflicts in the cy and avoid some “rent scams,” other similar ride sharing services, Chui ply with the local laws” and “adjust itself interpretation of the law, but the majori- an article that includes the need Sai Peng stated that “the smartphone to the local reality.” ty of the population supports this model. for a notarization of signatures applications that have been revolutioni- “We must admit that the current taxi The community even wants government when signing rental contracts zing the taxi service around the world, service has room for improvement and to legalize this type of service and inclu- aiming to prevent illegal immi- allowing a totally new experience for cus- the emergence of applications for taxis de it in the regulation of the special taxi grants and criminals from ren- tomers, have been collecting a lot of posi- results from the actual market demand,” license, introducing greater market com- ting and using residential flats tive feedback”, and although the operation he concluded, urging the taxi service to petitiveness and travel options in order was also added. model has caused a lot of concerns and modernize itself in order to follow market to promote the reform of taxi services.” The bill was approved with 28 discussion, the Uber “application aims to demand. “The sector cannot close upon She gave the example of a similar system, votes and 1 abstention, and will provide an alternative to customers” that itself, fleeing from technological applica- currently in use in mainland China, that is now proceed for further detailed have a need for it. tions and modernization,” he said. fully regulated and very popular. discussion. Coutinho criticizes gov’t ‘lack of communication skills’ AWMAKER Perei- political leaders, who paration and planning in ment,” he added. thy for the deceased and Lra Coutinho yester- promptly announced the their communication,” The lawmaker explai- her family.” Mr Couti- day afternoon criticized alleged suicide of Lai said the legislator. ned that the fact that nho added that this lack the way the government Man Wa, were confused “It was clear to all the fail the authorities were too in communication skills communicates in sen- and carried different in- in the perception of how worried in presenting was also previously re- sitive cases, such as the formation, which con- the news broke, causing the suicide theory as a vealed when a Commis- recent case of the death tributed to the rumors mistrust and subsequent “fait accompli” also did sion Against Corruption of the director general of about the case. discredit by the local and not help. In his opinion staff member was also the Customs Service. “The responsible person international media, and the government officials’ involved in a case of unu- At the AL plenary Mr in charge of the official the general public; nobo- initial statement “should sual death, in “which the Coutinho said that the communication showed dy believed in the expla- be confined to express motives continue to be explanations of several nervousness, lack of pre- Pereira Coutinho nation from the govern- their pain and sympa- explained.” RM DIRECTOR AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBlicatiONS LTD PUBlicatiON www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MANAGING EDITOR_Paulo Barbosa [email protected] MDT’s Website has logged over CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Eric Sautedé, Leanda Lee, Severo Portela AdministratOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHINA & FOREIGN EDITOR_Vanessa Moore [email protected] Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] 94 million page views DESIGN EDITOR_João Jorge Magalhães [email protected] | NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_ SECREtarY Juliana Cheang [email protected] Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Aries Un, Brook Yang, Emilie Tran, Grace
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