FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Kowie Geldenhuys EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Paulo Coutinho www.macaudailytimes.com.mo TUESDAY T. 15º/ 21º Air Quality Good MOP 8.00 3433 “ THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ ” N.º 10 Dec 2019 HKD 10.00 TWO AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS ALEXIS TAM, FIRST OF AN AL COMMITTEE SHORTENED A WERE BARRED ENTRY TO MACAU AND TWO-HOUR MEETING WITH THE CITY’S AUTHORITIES INSIST IT IS MERELY OUTGOING SECRETARIES TO DOMESTIC HELPERS ALLEGEDLY DUE A MATTER OF SECURITY HINT AT RETURN TO GOV’T TO A TRANSLATOR’S PRIVATE MATTER P6 P2 P3 China A Chinese official says Beijing wants a prompt settlement of its trade war with Washington. A deputy commerce minister said late yesterday that Beijing wants “satisfactory results as A CITY CALLED MACAU soon as possible.” The official gave no details of talks on a “Phase 1” deal announced by President Donald Trump A MAINLANDER’S in October. AP PHOTO PERSPECTIVE AT New Zealand A volcanic island erupted yesterday in a tower of ash and steam while dozens of tourists were exploring P4-5 INTERVIEW the moon-like surface, killing at least five people and leaving many more missing. Police said IFFAM the site was still too dangerous hours later for rescuers to search for the missing. More on p12-13 AP PHOTO New Zealand Nearly 1,000 tourists are stranded in the small New Zealand town of Franz Josef after stormy weekend weather triggered landslides and flooding along the town’s main highway. Authorities said road access to the town likely won’t be restored until Friday. Thailand Rescue teams in southern Thailand were searching yesterday for a Polish man and a Thai woman who went missing when the kayak they were paddling carried them away from shore into the open sea. 26-year-old Mateusz Juszkiewicz and 23-year-old Werakan Sirirakon went missing around 6 p.m. Saturday Beijing pushes for removal of while kayaking to an islet off Yanui beach on the popular resort island of foreign tech in more state offices Phuket. P11 More on backpage page 2 www.macaudailytimes.com.mo MACAU 澳門 10.12.2019 tue MACAU’S LEADING NEWSPAPER RENATO MARQUES RENATO third Chief Executive election committees. Leong claimed that Alexis Tam, first of outgoing before he joined the Macau go- vernment, he had unfinished tasks, including his studies. Now secretaries to return to gov’t he wants to complete these unfi- ANTHONY LAM & JULIE ZHU gramme for International Student of service hours at the S. Januá- “has absolutely no regrets” regar- nished works after he leaves the Assessment (PISA) ranking, which rio Hospital and Health Centers, ding his term in office, but wants government. LEXIS Tam will serve Macau showed Macau students placed which significantly shortened the to wrap up his final tasks before Ain another government role ahead of most of the world in the waiting time and improved me- handing over his responsibilities SONIA CHAN PLEDGES once he steps down as Secretary worldwide educational evalua- dical services. He also highlighted to his successor and the next go- DEDICATION TO HER WORK for Social Affairs and Culture later tion test. the 630 high-standard smoking vernment. Secretary for Administration this month. On the sidelines of a public rooms installed at 37 casinos According to Leong, the tran- and Justice Sonia Chan also in- According to a statement is- event, the secretary recounted the during his mandate. sition between the two govern- dicated that she will continue to sued by his Office on the weekend, work he and his team have com- Moreover, this year, Macau ments began last week and has serve Macau in another way after Tam “will continue to serve Ma- pleted in the past five years, whi- inaugurated its WHO-accredited been conducted in a smooth she steps down from her role la- cau [...] in a different position in ch includes Macau’s participation Emergency Medical Taskforce, manner. Leong and his succes- ter this month. the SAR government.” and rapid improvement in the which marked the fifth in China sor, Lei Wai Nong, are “fully confi- Officially the most senior Macau’s three outgoing secre- PISA evaluations. He said that he and 25th worldwide. dent” on the future development among the policy secretaries, taries have all promised to con- looked back on his term in office In cultural and tourism res- of the city’s economy. Secretary Chan will be succee- tinue serving Macau after they “without regret.” pects, Macau was recognized by Lei, who has been questioned ded by the current Commissio- officially step down from their po- He also said that he was prepa- the UNESCO as a Creative City by the public regarding his lack ner Against Corruption, André sitions later this month, but only red to continue serving Macau in of Gastronomy in 2017, which of a business background, was Cheong Weng Chun. Tam has indicated that will be in a another government role, though Tam proudly recalled over the endorsed by Leong, who claimed In Chan’s opinion, adminis- public role. did not specify what that would weekend. The application was that Lei understands the city’s trative and legal reforms are the Secretary for Administration entail. led by the Macau Government economy and cares about Ma- greatest challenge in the admi- and Justice Sonia Chan and Se- In 2015 and 2018, 15-year-old Tourism Office, which falls under cau’s small and medium-sized nistration and justice field. She cretary for Economy and Finance Macau students underwent the Tam’s authority. enterprises. did not comment on the refor- Lionel Leong promised to conti- tests to evaluate their academic “Each project, each work, each Last week, the incumbent Se- ms under her leadership, stating nue their contributions to the de- abilities. In the latest evaluation, meeting, each deed and each cretary for Economy and Finance only that reforms are a long-term velopment of the special adminis- Macau was ranked among the top policy enacted during my term,” said he was confident the next process and that her team alrea- trative region, but stopped short three of 79 participating econo- Tam said. “I have taken them very government “will secure the best dy tried its best. of specifying the nature of those mies in reading, mathematics and seriously and I still remember for the sake of Macau and the in- The outgoing Secretary contributions. science. them like yesterday.” terests of the country.” thanked Chief Executive Chui Sai Asked over the weekend to re- In another key area under his His gratitude for the “trust and Asked what advice he would On, the Central Government and flect on their mandates, this is watch, medical care, Tam pointed support offered by the Central offer to his successor, Leong said, the Macau SAR government for what the outgoing policy secreta- to the extension in life expectan- Government and Chief Executive “as long as they know their job; their trust in the past five years, ries said: cy as a measure of his success. He Chui Sai On” was also expressed. as long as they understand the which, according to Chan, cons- said that the current average life Tam disclosed that after he lea- needs of Macau; as long as they tituted “very good” training in ALEXIS TAM: PISA RESULTS expectancy for Macau residents is ves his current office, he will con- understand the needs of the peo- her life. PROVE EDUCATION SUCCESS now 83.7 years. tinue to serve Macau in a govern- ple, everything will be on the ri- Like her colleague Leong, who Approaching the end of his Before he took office, Tam had ment position, though he did not ght track. But it needs to be peo- did not disclose whether he will term, Secretary for Social Affairs pledged in front of the media that reveal any details. ple-based.” continue performing duties in and Culture Alexis Tam has said he would “make the brightest five Besides being the Secretary the public service, Sonia Chan he was satisfied to see the fruits years in Macau’s history for medi- LIONEL LEONG, SUCCESSOR for Economy and Finance, Leong only declared that, regardless of from his work in the education cal development.” CONFIDENT ON ECONOMY was also a former member of which position she takes in the sector. Tam was referring to the The Secretary recalled how Secretary for Economy and Fi- the Executive Council and for- future, she will be dedicated to recent announcement of the Pro- he had directed the extension nance Lionel Leong said that he mer member of the second and her work. www.macaudailytimes.com.mo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (DIRECTOR)_Paulo Coutinho [email protected] A MACAU TIMES PUBLICATIONS LTD PUBLICATION MANAGING EDITOR_Daniel Beitler [email protected] CONTRIBUTING EDITORS_Leanda Lee, Severo Portela, Sheyla Zandonai ADMINISTRATOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER + 4 Million page views Kowie Geldenhuys [email protected] NEWSROOM AND CONTRIBUTORS_Albano Martins, Annabel Jackson, Anthony Lam, Emilie Tran, Irene Sam, OFFICE MANAGER Juliana Cheang [email protected] PER MONTH Ivo Carneiro de Sousa, Jacky I.F. Cheong, Jenny Lao-Phillips, João Palla Martins, Joseph Cheung, Julie Zhu, Juliet ADDRESS Av. da Praia Grande, 599, Edif. 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