The government will “optimize the supervisory function of land use and the granting of land for development,” with the goal of maximizing the value of the approximately 5.5 square kilometers still available. The announcement was made by Raymond Tam during the presentation of the Policy Address at the Legislative Assembly, where he also revealed new public works across various city areas.
“There are plans for the construction of recreational, sports, and medical facilities, community leisure spaces, court buildings, and government administrative offices, aiming to improve the quality of services provided to the public,” Tam stated. Among the projects announced are the completion of social facilities and elderly care homes in Lot A8 of Zone A in the second half of 2026, green and leisure areas along Avenida Norte do Hipódromo, three court buildings, two blocks of the Government Office Building in ZAPE, and an administrative building on Avenida do Dr. Rodrigo Rodrigues.
The government will also carry out a comprehensive analysis of deteriorated buildings in older neighborhoods, aiming for transformation “tailored to the specific characteristics of each area” and the development of “new renewal models,” explained the Secretary for Transport and Public Works.
Acknowledged Shortcomings
Raymond Tam admitted that the Macau Light Rapid Transit (LRT) services “are not meeting public expectations (…) LRT services, particularly electronic payment services, are still falling short of public expectations,” and thus promised measures to improve the situation “gradually,” though without providing any deadlines.
Regarding the bus system, the secretary acknowledged the need for adjustments but stressed the importance of caution: “We will move forward with studies to alter bus routes, but we must proceed carefully because this also affects passengers’ habits.”
The expansion of the LRT network, an increase in the proportion of buses powered by alternative energy, and the introduction of online platform-based taxi services are also among the priorities being studied. The airport expansion, expected by 2030, is to be accompanied by the phased liberalization of the air transport market.
Alfred Ng, president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Macau, called for an interim review of the Master Plan for Land Transport (2021–2030): “The government must comprehensively assess the effectiveness of the plan’s implementation and address the contradiction between the growth of private vehicles and road capacity based on scientific data.”
The government could “fully leverage tools such as electronic payment records and bus location data to review the rationality of the transport network and optimize overlapping routes,” Ng emphasized.
Housing: Policy Review and Tailored Typologies
Raymond Tam also announced a review of public housing policies, highlighting the intention to “promote the construction of social and affordable housing” and ensure a “rational allocation” to meet “the housing needs of residents with different income levels.”
Construction of social and affordable housing in Zone A is expected to be completed between 2026 and 2028. Improvements to the allocation mechanism are also planned—for example, allowing two-person households to apply for T2-type units.
