Cracks Showing in Agnes Lam's Middle Path
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LIGHT FESTIVAL PIECE BREXIT ADJOURNED? DESTROYED IN BLAZE HK MONETARY With just nine days to go until A fire that broke out on the rooftop AUTHORITY SPENT Brexit, May asked the European of a ZAPE building destroyed a USD1B DEFENDING Union to postpone Britain’s popular luminous ‘field of flowers’ departure from the union until THE PEG from the Macao Light Festival June 30 P4 MDT REPORT P6 GREATER BAY P15 THU.21 Mar 2019 T. 22º/ 27º C H. 70/ 98% facebook.com/mdtimes + 13,000 MOP 8.00 3253 N.º HKD 10.00 FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho www.macaudailytimes.com.mo “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” WORLD BRIEFS RENATO MARQUES RENATO AP PHOTO Cracks CHINA-US Top U.S. trade and economic officials will visit China next week for another round of negotiations, a White House showing in official said. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead the delegation. More on p10 Agnes Lam’s AP PHOTO middle path The CHINA-VATICAN P2-3 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Holy See is greeting the visit to Italy of Xi Jinping later this week with a new round of overtures and says the “door is always open” to dialogue. Italian media have been speculating for days about the possibility of a meeting between Xi and Pope Francis. More on p9,11 AP PHOTO JAPAN Rights Watch BBC NEWS urged Tokyo yesterday to drop its requirement that transgender people be sterilized before their gender is changed on official documents. More on p13 AP PHOTO MEXICO President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (pictured) said that talks with White House senior adviser Jared Kushner have led to advances EDUCATION ALERT! toward an agreement that would have the U.S. government guarantee some USD10 Macau among worst places in billion in development investments for Mexico and Central America. world for school bullying P5 MDT REPORT More on backpage 21.03.2019 thu th Anniversary 2 MACAU 澳聞 WWW.MACAUDAILYTIMES.COM.MO Melinda Chan SPECIAL REPORT responds to next gaming concession Cracks appearing in Agnes Lam’s middle ground stance The President of Macau Lynzy Valles express the opposite opinion. nd that, before I joined the opportunity for the airing of Fishermen’s Wharf, Melinda During yesterday’s AL ses- assembly, I thought that we the lawmaker’s opinion than Chan Mei Yi, has said that GNES Lam is sion, lawmaker Pereira Cou- should always say yes to the a chance for the legislators to if her group meets the marking her tinho stressed during his debate. I just think that’s so- honestly discuss the issue. conditions imposed by the next 18th month as a time on the vote declara- mething we can do.” “I found that the topic was government’s public tender lawmaker after tion that such time exists for “I just want to ensure that wrong, so I voted against it,” for the gaming concession, it beingA elected in October 2017 lawmakers to justify their we want to propose a debate,” said Lam, “and people sha- will participate in the bidding, on a “middle ground” plat- vote, and not to be used to added Lam. “We just want med me.” according to a report by TDM. form between the pro- demo- criticize a lawmaker or pro- to ensure that it’s something Political commentator Lar- However, Chan noted that crats and pro-establishmen- posal. He was addressing that is debatable and not just ry So told the Times that al- it is up to the government’s tarians. Lam specifically – though he expressing our ideas to criti- though Lam stands in the mi- policy whether to allow Macau Her experience at Legisla- did not mention her by name cize the government, because ddle, she tends to lean more enterprises to participate in the tive Assembly (AL) sessions - who is known to use vote de- we have a lot of chance to cri- towards the conservative side. public tender for the concession. shows Lam leaning towards clarations to explain a stance ticize the government.” “There are some incidents Chan hopes the government the safest stance – the point contrary to the position in her in the community [that] call can introduce the policy as soon as possible to help the gaming of least contention - trying to vote. for a radical [approach] but it industry’s employees and appease both camps. But her “The vote declaration exists seems that [she] votes alon- enhance their confidence. middle ground stance during for lawmakers to be able to gside with the so-called con- yesterday’s session was star- justify to the population the With her servatives; all the pro- esta- ting to irritate at least one reasons why they voted in blishment branches,” So told 3,050 money lawmaker. favor, against or abstained, background, the Times. Lam – who won a seat at the during the voting process. It she’s got to Yet Lam sticks to her cam- exchangers AL on her third attempt – fo- cannot be used to criticize a paign platform – particularly cuses on addressing public lawmaker or proposal, espe- consider her in relations to gender issues, repatriated in housing and transport issues, cially if you have voted in fa- women issues and domes- 2018 as well as matters affecting vor [of it],” decried Coutinho. constituency – tic violence matters, as well the region’s most vulnerable Defending herself, Lam as protecting the vulnerable In 2018, the Public Security Police groups. told the Times last night which is more groups. Force (PSP) repatriated 3,050 In previous interviews, Lam that she has always believed middle-class, “To a very large extent, she people who were involved in has explained that she aims lawmakers should take every did offend the so-called esta- money exchange gangs, according to be a “middle ground” be- chance to discuss the perti- blishment,” said the acade- to the Office of the Secretary for educated and tween opposing lawmakers nent issues and that it is their mic. “That’s why I would put Security’s responses to lawmaker at the AL, not wanting to fall responsibility to proactively middle-aged. her in the middle, but she Lei Chan U’s questions. The majority of those repatriated squarely in either camp. share their opinion on legis- tends to walk down a little bit As seen in several AL dis- lative matters. The legislator LARRY SO [into] the so-called conserva- were mainland residents. There POLITICAL COMMENTATOR was also one Hong Kong resident cussions, debates and voting also argued that disagree- tive, pro-government side.” and one Vietnamese. The office sessions, Lam is regarded as ment should be welcome wi- “If we all agree that we shou- Although Lam has previous- further revealed that the Judiciary conservative, yet sometimes thin the AL as that is the pur- ld criticize the government, ly expressed a desire to see a Police (PJ) has initiated a joint inconsistent, when addres- pose of debate. then why are we debating?” more democratic society, So investigation with the mainland sing issues raised by the legis- “It seems that Coutinho was Accordingly, Lam explai- remarked that the lawmaker police authority to investigate the lative. Whether she votes in criticizing me,” Lam said. ned why she voted against is probably in favor of gra- background of money exchange favor or against a proposal at “I was explaining why I was a debate proposal raised by dual, rather than radical, gangs and whether they involve the Assembly, she will often voting for the bill. I just nee- fellow lawmaker Sulu Sou, change. The political com- group operations. The office noted use explanatory remarks to ded to clarify because I fou- saying that it was more an mentator said that there is that the illegal exchange of foreign currency is a violation of the financial management ordinance. tion on criminal ma- UM inaugurates tters. Joseph Lau’s son refuses to Backdating the en- new lab with forcement of the trea- CAS ty could allow Macau comment on extradition treaty to finally mete out An inauguration ceremony for justice to two Hong the University of Macau (UM) AU Ming-wai, son China on a case-by- ment was finally will not be especially Kong tycoons, Jose- and the Institute of Biophysics, of Hong Kong pro- case basis. passed, Joseph Lau neutral.” ph Lau Luen-hung Chinese Academy of Sciences L perty tycoon Joseph While attending an Luen-hung, who was Once the amend- and Steven Lo Kit- (CAS)’ Joint Research Laboratory Lau Luen-hung, said online show earlier convicted by a Macau ment is passed, fugi- sing. The pair were of Brain and Cognitive Sciences convicted in Macau was held at UM. The university that he could not sha- this week, Lau Ming- court for being invol- tives who take refuge is currently discussing a detailed re his opinion on the wai was asked a “sen- ved in Ao Man Long’s in one city to avoid in relation to bribing operation with CAS in respect Hong Kong govern- sitive” question, whi- corruption case, may punishment in the the former Secretary to brain and cognitive sciences. ment’s plan to amend ch is his view of the be required to be ex- other may be repa- for Transport and Pu- UM’s rector said that the school the Fugitive Offen- aforementioned ex- tradited to Macau to triated. blic Works, Ao Man would exert all effort in working ders Ordinance. tradition plan. serve his sentence. The mutual legal Long, to secure land with CAS, and to integrate into The Hong Kong Se- Previously, after However, Lau Ming- assistance scheme for a luxury property the Greater Bay Area.