Reserve Flexibility to Avoid Frequent Revisions
The Urban Planning Committee of Macao discussed the review and analysis report on the Macao Urban Master Plan (2020–2040) yesterday afternoon. Vong Tat Iao, Deputy Director of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, stated that this review of the master plan is mainly aimed at adjusting land use to accommodate the government’s newly launched four major projects, while also taking into account the suggestions put forward by committee members. He emphasized that it is impossible to incorporate all elements into the master plan, and flexibility must be maintained to reduce the need for frequent revisions in the future.
Adjust Land Use According to Needs
Several committee members opined that since the master plan review is being carried out to align with the four major projects, Member Leong Pou U proposed advancing the process in an efficient and expeditious manner, expressing concerns that delays might hinder the progress of these projects. Member Wong Kwok Kei described the four major projects as “imperative and urgent tasks”, suggesting that they should be addressed through simplified administrative procedures and supplementary administrative regulations. Otherwise, a full-scale overhaul of the master plan—characterized as a “major surgery” or a “too ambitious undertaking”—would fail to meet public expectations.
Vong Tat Iao explained that the overall direction of this review is consistent with the original master plan. However, given that some land use classifications were overly detailed in the initial version, adjustments are now needed to suit current development requirements. The review is urgent for two reasons: first, in accordance with the provisions of the Urban Planning Law, the master plan must be reviewed every five years; second, to keep pace with the progress of the four major projects and the timeline for diversified industrial development, the authorities aim to complete the review as soon as possible.
Master Plan Cannot Cover Everything
He emphasized that the core of the urban master plan lies in land use, which must be aligned with the overall development needs of the city to provide corresponding land resources. Matters related to transportation, housing, and cultural heritage protection can be addressed through special plans. He noted that it is impractical to “include everything” in the master plan, as this would make the document overly lengthy and comprehensive in both scope and timeline. The master plan has already built in a certain degree of flexibility—for instance, land zoned for commercial use is not rigidly restricted to commercial purposes only; instead, commercial development is prioritized. If landowners present reasonable plans and proposals, restrictions on land use can be appropriately relaxed during implementation without the need to amend the master plan.
Simplified Review May Involve Legal Amendments
Vong Tat Iao stressed that while the Urban Planning Law provides for simplified procedures, these are only applicable to cases with little room for discussion, such as typographical errors, natural disasters, accidents, or decrees issued by the State Council. Conducting a streamlined review would require amendments to the Urban Planning Law, which is a separate issue in itself. For now, the review will proceed in accordance with the existing legal framework. He reiterated that although the review is primarily driven by the four major projects, it is a comprehensive assessment with land use adjustment at its core.
Leong Iao Hung, Head of the Urban Planning Department of the Municipal Affairs Bureau, stated that after soliciting members’ opinions, the next step is to decide as soon as possible whether to revise the master plan, with the focus on adjusting land functions. He added that some of the members’ suggestions may not be reflected in the current round of potential revisions due to scheduling constraints, but will be considered in subsequent detailed, district-level, and small-area planning exercises.
