Macau (MNA) – On Saturday, discontent over the city’s traffic condition sparked some 3,500 residents to go on the street.
Organised by the Macau Community Development Initiative, a legislator and the president of the group, Ng Kuok Cheong (pictured, below), said the protest is an alert to remind of the current as well as next term’s Macau SAR Government in solving the traffic issues in the city.
“We would like to ask the Chief Executive, Chui Sai On, what he can do in the coming two years [in regards to solve the traffic problem,” said Mr. Ng.
He also pointed out whether the government would amend its decision in the policy of the mutual recognition of driving licenses between Macau and Mainland China before the traffic condition in the city is improved.
The protest also focused on topics such as vehicle control measures and the acute shortage of parking spaces.
A protest participant surnamed Fok, said he is very upset over the increase of fines as well as the reduction of legal parking spaces for both motorcycles and light vehicles.
Another resident surnamed Ho said she attended the protest to fulfil her civic duties.
“Many of these officials and legislators have several parking lots themselves, and we normal residents [don’t] have enough parking lots,” noted Ms. Ho.
She also complained that the police has been issuing summons too frequent, with the police issue tickets to vehicles in the middle of the night.
“In the past they [the police] wouldn’t ticket people for parking [their scooters] in alleys [and] not many people pass those alleys […] nowadays [the police] issues tickets [for those who parked there],” indicated Ms. Ho.
Groups which come from the taxi and shuttle bus industries had also participated the protest.
The group from the taxi industry had submitted a petition to the government, suggesting to set up more authorised spots for taxis to drop and pick passengers in the city.
The group also urged the government to reconsider its revision of the taxi regulations for not allowing residents who had criminal records to drive taxis.
According to the Public Security Police Force (CPSP), there were an estimation of 2,500 participants for the demonstration today.
