Many traditional dwellings in the old-town urban areas of the islands have long faced problems with electricity and water supply, hindering the normal use of household appliances and residents’ access to water. This situation seriously affects quality of life and poses significant safety risks. We urge the Government to swiftly assess the current situation, seek solutions and actively promote the modernization of electricity and water supply infrastructure in those zones, in order to definitively resolve basic subsistence problems, such as inadequate power and water supply, which affect residents.
Over the years we have received complaints from residents of those areas, especially those living in traditional housing, stating that the current electrical installations are far from meeting modern life’s needs. According to residents, most electricity meters were installed in the last century, with original designs that did not anticipate sufficient power capacity. With the current trend of electrification — where air-conditioning, computers, washing machines, electric water heaters, induction stoves and other high-power appliances are common — power shortages and frequent circuit-breaker trips have become routine. This not only affects everyday life quality but also represents safety risks. Moreover, it places local small businesses at a disadvantage, reducing their surviving space even further.
Although the Government has previously stated that, in recent years, the installation of external transformer stations in suitable locations and new stations in newly built buildings in the old-town zones has largely solved the problem of insufficient electricity in those neighbourhoods, historical factors mean that some island properties remain unable to apply for increased electrical capacity, leaving the problem unresolved.
In 2009 the Government launched the Land Grant Application Scheme for the Old-town Zone of Coloane Island, which allowed residents living continuously in that area before the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region, but without land-use rights, to legally rebuild or renovate their dwellings. Although this measure helped resolve some historical issues, the scheme was limited to certain zones of Coloane and eventually suspended for various reasons, making it even harder for island residents to fix basic infrastructure problems such as electricity supply.
At the time, the Government indicated that the scheme would be phased in to address the housing problems in the area, starting with the simplest cases before moving to more complex ones. However, with the suspension of the programme, residents were left without alternatives, further aggravating their quality of life. We recommend the Government revisit the current situation, pursue solutions and support these residents in resolving the existing problems.
At the same time, given the severe inadequacy of basic infrastructure such as electricity and water supply in the island villages, the competent government services must assess the situation as soon as possible and take the lead in assisting these residents, helping them resolve their problems.
Macao Federation of Trade Unions
