A delegation of Macau’s deputies to the National People’s Congress (NPC) has urged the Chinese central government to coordinate the return of normal cross-border operations between Macau, Hong Kong and Guangdong Province.
Twelve Macau members are currently attending China’s NPC session in Beijing where they have put forward a range of proposals regarding possible methods to bolster the SAR’s economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19.
The delegation has expressed its belief that Macau and Guangdong Province already have the pandemic under control and that Beijing should support and proactively coordinate the local governments and relevant units of Guangdong and Macau to expedite the restoration of cross-border operations between the two regions.
They also pointed out that although Macau had launched its own economic relief measures, the city’s economic development has always been highly dependent on visitation. Opening up the flow of people is therefore key to boosting the depressed economy.
Si Ka Lon, one of Macau’s NPC deputies, even suggested the resumption of China’s Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to Macau as soon as possible.
Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng said he hoped to see more visitors traveling to Macau in the wake of the coronavirus.
“Macau’s economy is greatly impacted by the global pandemic,” he said in an interview with China News Service. “Macau is a low-risk region and our active cases have recently reached zero. We have resumed our school classes and businesses, so we hope more mainlanders and foreigners will soon be able to visit Macau.”
