47
Dubbed the “off-coast” or “trav-
elling” chief executive on Internet chat forums, Mr Chui’s absence from Macau is a public talking point, espe- cially when a different acting chief is named at the helm each time he leaves. This has allowed most govern-
ment secretaries a limited chance to steer the Special Administrative Re- gion while the boss has been away. Early September was by far the
53-year-old Chief Executive’s busiest period, with three two-day mainland trips in eight days. He says an extra effort was made
to show support for the Pan-Pearl Riv- er Delta cooperation movement and boost ties with mainland counterparts as part of a broader strategy to diver- sify Macau’s economy and promote locally produced products. But Mr Chui has also pledged
to spend less time in the airport and more of the working week at govern- ment headquarters where more press- ing issues include a revision of
Piling up the miles Mr Chui’s fi rst offi cial
the
territory’s gaming laws and a rising infl ation rate.
trip to Bei-
jing as Chief Executive in March was widely expected. There to attend the annual session of the National Peo- ple’s Congress, he put Macau fi rmly on the agenda.
It was after his maiden speech that Fernando Chui Sai On really began piling-up the frequent fl yer miles. At least eight days a month from April to August were spent on offi cial tours or the odd holiday
He had already notched up three
days away in February – for reasons un- disclosed –but it was after his maiden speech that the travelling chief executive really began piling-up the frequent fl yer miles. At least eight days a month from April to August were spent on offi cial tours or the odd holiday. Portugal
in June, followed by fi ve
trips to the 10 noteworthy mainland cit- ies lying within the Pearl River Delta in early summer were highlights on his itinerary, but nothing compared to ear- ly last month, with three two-day trips ranging from the north to the south of mainland China within just eight days, including trips to two investment fairs. Mr Chui had an additional two-day
visit scheduled to Nanchang, in Jiangxi province on September 25-26 but even- tually it was cancelled on the day due to bad weather. The airplane the chief exec- utive was travelling on was obliged to do a U-turn and come back to the territory.
Who’s the boss? Mr Chui’s frequent absence from Macau has given all fi ve secretaries a chance to take charge. Among them Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U and the Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io, who rank fi fth and sixth in the government’s hierarchy. The Secretary for Administration
and Justice Florinda da Rosa Silva Chan, Mr Chui’s number two, has so far spent more than 40 days as interim chief ex- ecutive. The revolving door to the top post
became clear between September 6 and 8 when the top job was shared between four people including a few hours put in by Mr Chui himself. The travelling chief executive de-
serves his moniker at least when com- pared with the former top politician Edmund Ho Hau Wah, who travelled far less than his successor. Over the corresponding period from
January to September last year, Mr Ho was out of town for just 27 days accord- ing to the Offi cial Gazette. Mr Chui has clocked up 62 away days.
Cutting back Mr Chui said his participation in some mainland events came down to tradition, while his attendances elsewhere were part of a broader strategy to develop co- operative framework arrangements with neighbouring cities. These trips, he stressed, were also
meant to promote “Made in Macau” products and help promote economic di- versifi cation. “Actually we have planned to cut
back trips as far as possible but I will continue to focus on work related to mainland China because I have highly valued the cooperation with the Pearl River Delta region,” Mr Chui said, in- sisting Macau would be the ultimate benefi ciary of his ‘tour de force’. “I still think the extra effort [to
travel a lot] is very worthwhile. With the active promotion made in the past few months, I am optimistic about the pan- Pearl River Delta cooperation.” Outspoken legislator Paul Chan Wai
Chi accepts Mr Chui’s explanations but is still worried about the negative im- pact of having the territory’s chief out of town so often. “There are many diffi cult and ur- gent problems in Macau that
require
instant solutions,” Mr Chan says. “The impact on the government operations of having an acting chief executive is also an issue.” The New Macau Association legis-
lator was also concerned about the true motives regarding the many trips made by Mr Chui. He said many of the objectives ar-
gued by the chief executive to justify his extraordinary travel schedule could also be achieved by a delegation led by a sec- retary or another high offi cial.
OCTOBER 2010
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