Portuguese diplomacy is trying to negotiate greater openness from the Macau authorities in issuing Resident Identity Cards. It is clear that Chinese political culture does not like fuss and that the silence behind the scenes promotes achievements. In fact, as in the case of the Portuguese-speaking delegates at Forum Macau, to whom privileges – and dignity – were returned through direct intervention from Beijing. But there is a serious problem that is not worth hiding. The thinking of those who make laws today – and apply them – is conservative and schizophrenic. In the sense that he looks at his own navel and burns the bridges he must build. Not only with Portugal and Portuguese-speaking Countries, but also with the Greater Bay Area, China… and the rest of the world.
Everyone today asks the same question, whether they are foreign residents in Macau; politicians, businesspeople and service providers looking from the outside: is this siege, in fact, possible against the instructions of the national plan, China’s interests, everything that is written and assumed? How does Macau intend to be this open city, does it actively create conditions so that no one can or wants to come? Even stranger is this scorched earth policy, which is then followed by the wolf in sheep’s clothing. First, you need to win the Nobel Prize, on the Moon or Mars, to deserve the honor of a Resident Identity. Afterwards, it may not be quite like that, the problem was not clearly understood… and exceptions are made here and there. It’s poor, it doesn’t make sense, and it’s not credible at all.
These geniuses, who no one knows who they are, don’t know Macau, nor are they interested. Others, brilliant but human, prefer Hong Kong, Guangzhou or Beijing by far. Where they want to receive them, they pay much better and fight for their presence. Macau can be a village turned in on itself, proudly alone and obsessed with saving jobs for the locals, who are not even offered quality education and top opportunities – except at the casino level. If that’s what you want, this is the way. Saying otherwise doesn’t make sense. Unless you do everything the other way around.
*General Director of PLATAFORMA
