According to the information released by the SAR Government, a total of 720 000 square metres of land has been resumed by the authorities, of which about 26%, or 190 000 square metres, has been used for the construction of government office buildings, warehouses, elderly flats, public housing and private buildings. At the same time, the DSSCU is currently charging $15 per square metre for weeding and cleansing on public land. On the basis of a land reserve of 530 000 square metres, nearly $8 million of public money is required for one round of weeding and cleansing.
Ensuring the timely and reasonable use of land and optimising resources is one of the important principles of the Land Law. In recent years, there have been aspirations in the community for the optimal use of unused land for which there is no clear planning, such as the provision of more temporary leisure facilities or additional car parking spaces, or at least the enhancement of unused land to minimise hygiene and safety problems. However, the authorities concerned have adopted a negative attitude and failed to accept the general views and aspirations of the community, resulting in the resumed sites being overgrown with grass and breeding mosquitoes. This is not only a waste of land resources and increase of public expenditure arising from maintenance, but also a violation of the principle of effective and efficient use of land, as well as a negative impact on the public health of the community and the living environment of the residents.
Relevant departments should consider how to effectively utilise the precious public resources of Macau, so that the recovered public land can continue to enhance its real value, improve the living environment for the residents, and minimise the potential problems arising from the recovery of the land in terms of community hygiene and the safety of the residents. Taking the two pieces of land on Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa, originally planned to be used for a park as an example. One of the pieces of land that was rejected in the public tender has not yet been confirmed for development. The enclosed land is overgrown with grasses, and the potholes in the ground have made it impossible to drain away the stagnant water in a timely manner, thus becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and pests. Moreover, due to the lack of proper management, rubbish has been thrown into the bushes, and the situation has further deteriorated under the recent rainy days.
Apart from the above, we have also received many complaints from residents of various districts in the past that the absence of proper management of public land in the SAR has given rise to many problems, and there have even been cases of snakes, which have affected the safety of the residents. It is suggested that the relevant departments should take the initiative to actively carry out remediation and enhancement of existing land through inter-departmental co-operation.
The land planning departments should also examine the existing land resources and take the initiative to co-ordinate with other relevant departments to optimise the use of land for which there is no clear planning, including making reference to the past practice of using unused land for the construction of temporary community facilities or for temporary public uses such as transport, greening, recreation and sports, etc., so as to enhance the effectiveness of land utilisation, and to use the existing resources to improve the living environment and activity space for the residents.
At the same time, it is suggested that the SAR Government should seriously consider allocating a certain proportion of the existing land reserve for temporary public facilities. Specifically, a tenure can be set for the land concerned. If there is another planned use for the land after the expiry date, the temporary public use will end and the land will be utilised in accordance with the relevant planning; if there is no planned use for the land after the expiry date, the land will continue to be used for temporary public facilities. This will not only add value to the land reserve, but also respond to the aspirations of the community and prevent precious land resources from being wasted.
Aliança de Povo de Instituição de Macau*
