TNAG-2290-FCO40-3296-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1991 — Page 250

portuguese

after 1999.

language is to be considered a official language,

are

more

98 per

of: the

Practical reasons justify these concessions. There than one hundred thousand portuguese citizens in Macau cent of whom are ethnicaly chinese - and the majority civil servants have portuguese citizenship. On the other side, all the judges in Macao are portuguese and the work of translating the laws to chinese is far from accomplished.

PUBLIC EXPENSES "CONTROLED" IN 1991 GOVERNMENT BUDGET

With more than 2 billion patacas coming from direct taxes over gambling,Macau's budget for this year has no real growth, in terms of expenses.The public expenses were kept at a 8 per

cent increase, which means no growth at all, because of a inflation rate of 8.7 per cent last year. The receipts have a real growth of around 8 per cent.

Public Works and Transports get the "lion share" of the "Investment Plan (3),with 46 %.Education and Social Welfare comes second, with 38.5 per cent. The total amount scheduled for this year's government investment plan is 1.435 million patacas.

During the debate, at the Legislative Assembly, there was strong criticism to the fact that the expenses have been increasing at a rate superior than the receipts. However, none of the members of Legislative Assembly voted against the budget and only four abstained on the chapter concerning Culture and Transition

Affairs.

NEW GOVERNOR TO BE APPOINTED AFTER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Ay

As the only presidential executive responsability, Macau's government and the fate of the two governors previously appointed. by the actual president - which is also running for a second term - have been frequently used in the campaign.

Scheduled for Jannuary 13th, presidential elections are concentrating on two candidates and the most agressive acusations are about Macau's government: e

Elected with the suport of socialists and comunists, in 1985, the actual president, Mario Soares, has been praised, in his. first term, for his capacity of dialogue and ability to keep political stability, on a country rulled by social-democratic party, which sponsored his adversary in 85.

gave

...... Now, Soares is supported by his former party ...the Socialist Party

and, in a indirect way, also by the Social- Democratic Party. Social-democrats don't have a condidate and no clear indications of vote, but said that they are not opposing the reelection of Soares.Last pools show a strong support

for Soares - 59.6 % - with a rigth wing candidate on second Basilio Horta, with 13 % and the comunist candidate in third, with 6 %. The fourth candidate, Carlos Marques, has 2% and the percentage of voters that are not yet decided is around 15 %.