The Committee endorsed the revision of the city’s master plan.
The Macao Urban Planning Committee convened its 7th Regular Plenary Meeting yesterday to hear a presentation on the Review and Analysis Report of the Macao Master Plan (2020-2040) by the consulting firm and conduct discussions. Director of the Lands, Public Works and Transport Bureau Li Yongliang stated that according to the provisions of the Urban Planning Law, a mandatory review of the Master Plan must be carried out five years after its entry into force. Coupled with the need to align with the launch of Macao’s four major projects, the government has decided to conduct a review of the Master Plan. After collecting opinions from committee members and finalizing the review and analysis report, the Chief Executive will decide whether to amend the Master Plan. In addition, draft detailed plans for four districts are expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.
The Urban Planning Committee meeting was held at 3:00 p.m. yesterday in the conference room on the 5th floor, No. 33, Estrada do Bom Parto. Li Yongliang noted that under the Urban Planning Law, a mandatory review of the Master Plan is required five years after its implementation (i.e., in 2027). A review is also mandatory if large-scale public infrastructure projects exert a significant impact on land use or the overall planning layout.
The Macao SAR Government’s 2025 Policy Address proposed the construction of four major projects, three of which fall within the scope of the Master Plan. These include the Macao International Integrated Tourism and Culture Zone, the Macao Science and Technology Research and Development Industrial Park, and the Macao International Aviation Hub on the West Bank of the Pearl River (Port). To support the implementation of these four major projects and meet the needs of the “One Centre, Four Bases” diversified industrial development strategy, the SAR Government decided in July this year to launch a review of the Master Plan. This review will also take into account newly promulgated upper-level plans, laws and regulations, as well as Chief Executive announcements and directives, alongside other emerging developments.
Opinions to Be Solicited Prior to a Final Decision
Li Yongliang emphasized that soliciting opinions from the Urban Planning Committee is a statutory procedure for the Master Plan review. Committee members are professionals drawn from various sectors of society, and the SAR Government looks forward to gathering their valuable insights and recommendations to refine the review process. He stressed that in accordance with relevant procedures under the Urban Planning Law, the SAR Government will decide whether to amend the Master Plan after considering the Committee’s opinions and the review and analysis report. Should a decision be made to amend the plan, the process will be announced in the Official Gazette of the Macao Special Administrative Region, encompassing the drafting of the revised plan, public consultation, and further consultation with the Urban Planning Committee.
The consulting firm supplemented that if a decision is made to revise the Master Plan, the revision process will be published in the Official Gazette, and must follow procedures including draft formulation, public consultation, and solicitation of the Urban Planning Committee’s views, before being approved by supplementary administrative regulations. If no revisions are made, the main contents of the review and analysis report will be released to the public.
Proposal to Optimize the Division of the 18 Districts
The majority of speaking committee members agreed that the Master Plan should be reviewed and adjusted in a timely manner to adapt to social changes and the advancement of major construction projects, thereby ensuring the plan’s relevance and forward-looking nature. Some members proposed optimizing the division of Macao’s 18 planning districts. The consulting firm responded that the current 18 districts are delineated based on the unique characteristics of each area, with the aim of ensuring consistency in the formulation of detailed district plans. At present, the government is actively advancing the drafting of detailed plans for four districts: Northern District 1, Outer Harbour District 1, Outer Harbour District 2, and Taipa Central District 2. The draft detailed plans and technical reports for these districts are expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.
