OPINION – The gilded cage – Macau Business

I once met a guy who used to work as a lifeguard in an idyllic beach site. Although you would expect him to just sing the praises of such a dream position, the truth, according to him, is that the fact that he was confined to about a 50 meters area from his lifeguard seat for hours was enough to drive him crazy.

So, no matter how pleasant and comfortable the location, if you are not allowed the freedom to leave, it doesnt feel that idyllic after all.

We had some minor developments in our dear city on policies that could allow some people to leave Macau, but still far from enough to make us feel like were not left stranded in this small rock in the Pearl River Delta.

Last week health authorities noted that Macau residents could apply for a possible exemption to a 14-day medical observation in Zhuhai for business reasons, political affairs, or special reasons, with little information about what special would represent.

Prior to this new exemption system, Macau residents who live in Zhuhai but work in Macau who hold a Zhuhai residence permit, local students and teachers who live in Zhuhai, and non-resident workers holding a Zhuhai ID card or residence permit could already be exempt from quarantine.

Demand was so high that, in a few days, almost 5,500 requests were submitted in the governments online platform. However, it seems that for most residents crossing the border to eat some spicy noodles or stroll around in Qinglu Road, is special enough to warrant an application?

I cant say I blame them. However, Zhuhai authorities dont seem to share the same view.

Still, applications have to be submitted five days prior to the intended travel date, with the Macau government evaluating applications on a case-by-case basis, and then forward their recommendations to the Zhuhai authorities for consideration.

If approved, then the applicant still needs to test negative in a COVID-19 nucleic acid test, a result only valid for seven days.

At this point, local residents must feel they had to jump through so many hoops, they might as well be a circus animal.

At least a special ferry service between Taipa Ferry Terminal and Hong Kong International Airport, operating between June 17th and July 16th, was also announced, giving people stranded in the city or outside for months at least an opportunity to return to wherever they prefer.

The truth is that progress is still slow between Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau to establish the much anticipated travel bubble, with citizens in the region able to move freely between borders.

We have been hearing repeatedly about Greater Bay Area cooperation between regions, so you would expect the process to be smoother than how it has progressed. Its true that such decisions will depend on Central Government authorization, but if the three regions managed to get their act together and cooperate, certainly it could progress.

Meanwhile, the hotel and gaming sector agonizes with empty tables and rooms, with a food and beverage sector not much better, despite the MOP2.1 billion consumer e-card injection.

Because the hard truth of the COVID-19 pandemic restriction measures all over the world, you can say we are all in this together all you want, but if you are a restaurant waiter in a touristic area, youre certainly not dealing with the crisis the same as a website programmer.

Thankfully, and with great effort by local health authorities and residents, Macau has not reported any new COVID-19 cases for 65 consecutive days.

Other countries and regions have shown its possible to re-open borders and economies safely, so lets all cheers that the Greater Bay Area, that new beacon of regional cooperation, can do the same.

MNA Editor-in-Chief

See the original post:

OPINION - The gilded cage - Macau Business