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Urban planning practices and scenarios for Macao development.

Case Studies of Macao’s Urban Sustainable Development

Paper prepared for the12th Real Estate Society Annual Conference. July 9-12, 2007.

University of Macao

by

Francisco Vizeu Pinheiro 1 and Penny Wan2

1 Architect. Adjunct Professor at the IIUM, S.A.R. People’s Republic of China 2 Lecturer. Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT). Macao. S.A.R. People’s Republic of

China

Key words: Macao Development, Urban Planning, Real Estate, Casinos,

Macao and COTAI strips

1. Introduction

Founded circa 1555, Macao is the oldest and longest colony in South East

Asia. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) recognized the Historical Center of Macao as part of the World

Heritage in 2005, a small1 but unique place where Chinese and Portuguese

cultures intertwined for centuries. Since the handover of the Portuguese

administration to China in 1999, Macao has established intimate relationship

and closer cooperation with Mainland China that helps increase millions of

visitor (i.e. 7.44 million in 1999 jumped to 22 million in 2006). Since then, the

gaming industry has been liberalized, real estate development flared out

brightly and jumped in quality and quantity. Within this decade more than 40,

000 new hotel rooms will reinforce the tourism capacity that will create a

1 Macao is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with only 28.2 km2 in size (MSAR, 2006a).

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workforce over 150,000 persons2 by the end of this decade. All these positive

factors happened in a short period of four years, overloading the existing old

infrastructures that are now reaching saturation aggravated by the lack of

available land for expansion and making difficult to maintain conditions proper

for a sustainable development. Growing demand for energy3 and water supply

is provided by China, but new roads and terrain for building are confined to 28

Square Kilometers land in Macao, (that currently is the most densely

populated in the world with 17,000 inhabitants per square Kilometer), leaving

little public space for social facilities, e.g., schools, sports, gardens and

recreation area, etc. This situation could deteriorate the quality of life of local

citizens and visitors’ traveling experiences, making Macao less attractive than

other competitive cities in the region like Singapore or Hong Kong.

A comprehensive urban planning, comprehending the neighborhood regions,

e.g., Zhuhai and Hengqing island 4 , seems crucial for Macao to have a

sustainable and harmonious development that could respond to the needs of

diversity of the industry5. This paper elaborates scenarios for Macao future

development and proposes possible solutions for the present urban crisis

created by the high-speed urbanization process.

2. History of Macao’s organic development Macao is a city of contrasts. The Macao peninsula faces two harbors that

developed two cities. They are physically linked but culturally and socially

separated, developing parallel to each other, intertwining in several points.

Pinheiro et al. (2005) analyze the genesis of the two cities and find that these

2 Data is based on the statistic research elaborated by the Institute For Tourism Studies (IFT 2006.). This figures are a moderate approach to the period when all tourist and entertaining facilities in The COTAI are operational 3 June 6, 2007 (Ponto Final Daily), was announced that Macao will have Natural Gas supply from Zhuhai by Sinosky Energy, a consortium between China Petro and Natural Gas Company of Macau. This is a cheaper and cleaner energy source to support the COTAI strip. Macau have four interconnections with China power grid of electricity 4 Zhuhai is located North of Macao’ Peninsula and Henqing to the West

5  The Las Vegas Sands Corporation already realize the logistic need of Zhuhai –partnership, by building in Hengqing island (in Zhuhai, west of Cotai strip) the larger Sands resort in Asia. This 5,8 square kilometer holiday resort is inspire in southern France ambience. Henqging Sands resort will provide hotels, residential areas, marina, golf course, tennis courts, etc.     

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find

olutions for sustainable development.

cities are developed in an organic way without a pre-established plan6, but

are planned in accordance with the Portuguese medieval principles of

adaptation to the irregular topography, and following local Chinese traditions

influenced by Fung Shui. Both cities in the 1840 continued “without police,

completely separated with unequal rights and without reciprocity of interests”7.

The city survives from different crises, which often arises from being too small

and due to concentrating its economy in monopolies, the risky business to put

all eggs in one basket. Several times in the last 450 years of the rich history of

this thin settlement ups and downs, glorious apogee and bankruptcy crisis

happened. Now we are in an “upward” moment after more links, full

cooperation and support from Mainland China favored Macao’s rocket-sky-

high economic growth that is backboned in the liberalization of the gaming

industry. This brought a boom in quantity and quality of residential, revitalizing

the foreign investment in the real estate market that is also linked with local

business with interests in the gaming industry. When the race gaming

liberalization began, the Las Vegas Tycoon Stephen Wynn says that Macao is

the “safest bet on earth”. Sheldon Adelson, Chairman and Chief Executive

Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation have the presentiment that Macao is

like an “explosive firecracker” ready to explode. His comments may be

founded in alarming signs like the increase number of traffic jams, poor public

transportation, high levels of pollution, and lack of green areas and open

spaces. This situation of congestion 8 is aggravated by the lack of

transparency in urban planning, land concessions, buildings layout, and

approved cases by case, making difficult for scholars and politicians to

s

6Please see Pinheiro, Francisco, Yagi, Koji and Korenaga, Miki (2005) Role of the Iberian Institutions in the evolution of Macao. Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering. Vol.4 No.2 November.2005. Referee journal edited by The Architectural Institute of Japan (AIJ), the Architectural Institute of Korea (AIK) and the Architectural Society of China (ASC). 7From an 1867 police report (official Gazette of Macao and Timor Province, p 225. 8 Visiting Professor Nunes da Silva, PhD, Urban planner during the Urban Planning International Federation of Housing and Planning (IFHP) Spring Conference, 29-31 May, 2006, Macao, mention the saturation situation, the lack of sidewalk for so many people on the streets, the reduction of the smaller and smaller green spaces, the substitution of traditional Mediterranean open spaces in Macau (gardens and squares) by imported Anglo Saxon air conditions malls, etc.

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wo questions are necessary for understanding Macao development:

future of Macau, the best

place on earth or the explosive firecracker?

ach saturation and breaking point, in this case will be the “end of the game”.

like Las Vegas that was built in 75

ears in the boundless desert of Nevada.

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1) How did we reach this situation of congestion?

2) What scenario do we want to choose for the

Ultimately, these answers all depend on the choice over a scientific

sustainable development planning strategy or a disorganized and ad hoc one.

Without the help of academics, professionals and experts as well public

participation, a holistic vision of the city could not be achieved and the

necessary logistic integration with the Pearl River Delta Region Macao could

re

3. Growth in the fast lane Visiting scholars9 comment that Macao is reaching saturation particularly in

urban spaces, that is critical for local and tourist carrying capacity. Saturation

is a consequence of dramatic changes (without adaptation plan) that occurred

when is intended to build in such a small place like Macao, in 5 to 8 years

time, a similar gambling and hotel facilities

y

Its population increased drastically after the handover of the territory’s

administration from Portugal to China in December 1999. The number of

residents jumped from only 431,500 in 2000 to 520,113, with an average

growth rate of over 2.8%10. The main reason for the growth is the influx of

immigrants from the Mainland China due to the lower immigration

9 Professors Manuel Da Costa Lobo and Nuno Portas. Professor Costa is one of the founders of the Portuguese modern Urban Planning. He defends for Macao more pedestrian areas to balance the high density in the buildings (during 2006 IFHP spring conference May 2006 ). Nuno Portas, participates in previous plans during the Portuguese Administration. He received UIA international price. He is a specialist in Macau Urban Planning. His advise is that Macau should take better care of its public spaces and urban equipment (JTM, January 16, 2007) 10The growth rate was found even much higher between 2003 and 2006 with an average annual growth rate of about 4.5% (DSEC, 2006).

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FITs, accounting for 50%, followed by tourists from Hong

ong and Taiwan.

reclamation increased from 25.8 square meters in

001 to 28.6 in 2006.

Bay) area, were designated with the main purpose to provide in organize and

requirements (1 million investments) than the neighboring cities such as Hong

Kong (6 millions investments). Macao also needs to accommodate a large

influx of foreign workers. There have been 70,000 foreign workers working in

Macao in 2006, who mainly worked for the construction and the gaming

industries (Macau Hoje, 9 April 2007). The City has experienced a drastic

increased in the number of tourists in the past 10 years from only 815.1

millions in 1996 to 916.2 millions in 2000 and further to over 22 millions in

2006. Reasons for such growth the liberalization of the gaming licensing in

2002 which has attracted a large numbers of tourists to try new gaming

experiences in Macao and the implementation of the Individual Visitation

Scheme by the Chinese government in 2003 allowing Mainlanders to travel to

Hong Kong and Macao individually11 without the need to join a group tour (or

so called Free Individual Travelers (FITs). Also, the designation of the

historical center of Macao as a World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2005

further pushed up the tourist figures. Presently, the largest source of tourist

arrivals in Macao is

K

To cope with the increasing number of visitors and population growth, the

Government has always relied on land reclamation for creating new lands.

Land acquire from land

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4. Real Estate boom and Casino “eating up” the public spaces The gaming liberation decision produced a boom in construction and urban

development. This boom found unprepared government urban planning

departments, that considered its homework done after in the last decade of

the 1990’s had detailing preparing the NAPE (Fig 1) master plan and COTAI

area (Fig.2) for future developments. The careful and detailed laws (175

pages) of the NAPE (New reclaimed areas in Outer Harbor and Nam Wan

11This liberalization of immigration measures intended to help Macao and Hong Kong to recover from the scare of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic.

balance way12, will well-integrated residential areas with social and public

facilities with green areas parking, etc. This was foreseen as an investment

ground for real estate development, which could liberate the old part of the

city from the speculative forces. Partial development plans never work well13

in the old part of the city with narrow streets and organic urban fabric. The

COTAI (land reclamation between Coloane and Taipa Islands) was presented

in last years of the Portuguese administration as the area for the city

expansion and development for the next decades (Fig. 1 and 2).

Fig. 1. The NAPE area, mostly for residential areas. Notice the urban park now occupied by Sand Casino and the Cultural Center. Green areas have being eat up by casinos.

Fig.2. 1999 plan of COTAI. The tourism and convention areas are marginal. The core of the plan is residential and social facilities. The Plan after 2002 is major casinos and hotels, with a few sport and residential areas

In order to cope with future tourism development, fifty-nine new hotels will be

developed and two hotels will be expanded (Macao Daily News, 29 June

2006). In less than five years the hotels capacity will jump from 11,000 rooms

to 40,000 and the figures still growing to reinforce the tourism capacity. Also,

new bridge was built in 2006, two underwater tunnels are already announced,

and the airport is expanding to double its capacity. Now “High class” towers

are built in century old narrow streets, they are like in the words of the scholar

12Decree Law N.68/91/M published in the Government Gazette in April 18, 1991. 68/91/M and 69/91/M, dated from April 18, 1991, that approved the (Guidelines and Urban) Regulations for the Plan of Urban Intervention (PIU) of the New Reclaim Land of the Outer Harbor (NAPE), (PIUNAPE) and the (Guidelines and Urban) Regulation of the Urban Detail Plan of Reordering of Praia Grande Bay (Nam Wan) respectively. 13Please see conference by Campina Ferreira bout the origin of NAPE plan in Arquitectura, Magazine of Macao Architects Association, n10, August 1995, p38.

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Nuno Portas, Macao city looks like Toothpicks (Towers) in the middle of the

spaghetti mess (the roads). With the local flavor the topics can be translated

as chopsticks (Fig.3) that represent better the size of the development.

Fig. 3. The new development of Macao resembles a “spaghetti mass (roads and overpass) punctuated by chopstick (Entertaining facilities). Drawn by Francisco Pinheiro.

Some of the chopsticks are new landmarks such as the Grand Lisboa, MGM

tower and the Star World. Others look like local copies of old Las Vegas with a

glamorous “camouflage” of neon lights to cover the nakedness of the poor

design, consequence of fast adaptation of residential or office buildings in

casinos. This diversity between low and high class, new from scratch and

adapted buildings is what makes Macao the “Last” Vegas. Schools 14 ,

universities, gardens and parks were physically eating up, demolished in

order to give way to hotels and casinos. This is apparent in Macao Strip (from

the Jet foil terminal to the New Lisboa Casino). A new development policy has

recently been announced by the Public Works Department of the

Government. In Nam Wan Bay, a large site has been approved by that

Department for gaming, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and

Exhibitions) and tourism purposes. Officials of the Department claim that the

priority of the site is given for gaming, hotel and MICE industries, followed by

social housing. The consequence of this is that many community institutions 14 The Portuguese school of Macau was a heritage classified building, which in 1992 was surprisingly de-classified (Ponto Final Daily, March 31, 2005). This de classification makes possible the expansion of the Grand Lisboa Casino and Hotel, which first eat up a soccer field, now it is looking to the school. Casino Tycoon Stanley Ho, complained that this school should have being destroyed long time ago (and extend the casino), there is no room from nostalgias (Interview in the first issue of Cover Magazine, 2007, published in Macao).

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such as the historical Legislative Council and the Supreme Court have to be

removed to give ways for Casino and hotel developments (JTM, May 4 2007).

Also, the NAPE plan was cancelled by the Chief Executive on August 16 2006

– a plan that served as a master development plan for the new reclaimed area

in Macao. Since many concessions have been made to new casinos

developments, which have already violated many planning concepts in the

original NAPE plan, the Government finds it difficult to follow it and therefore

decides to cancel it15. The Government therefore concludes that the NAPE

plan is no longer appropriate for Macao's development, considering the lack of

land due largely to the liberalization of development of gaming industry. 80 to

90% of the new real estate developments were bought by immigrants,

expatriates and global investors16. This situation leaves little room for locals

buying new residential units (design to the upper market) because locals have

limited purchasing power. A side effect is the causing a wider gap between

the rich and the poor 17 . The recent controversy of Guia Hill is another

example of how private developments are eating up all available spaces,

particularly after the COTAI area, destined majorly as a residential area for the

city expansion, was converted in the “COTAI Strip”. The forecast residential

density just migrated from this area to Macao peninsula and central Taipa

Island where the new tower rich 50 floors (Tso, 2006). Many fear that the

historical central green park and old Yec Long firecracker factory18 could

disappear to give way to more towers, reducing this area to a jungle of

concrete where the urban heat effect and the degradation of public open

spaces is already noticeable.

15 The NAPE and Naw Van Lakes urban laws were cancelled by the executive Decree N 248/2006, published in the Government Gazette, the BOM 34/2006, published in 2006.8.21, pages 1062-1063 16 from media and http://www.macauhotproperty.com 17  Accordingly with a survey elaborated by the University Macau and the University of Hong Kong, 17,5% of Macao families are affected by poverty, They cannot afford to have their own home (JTM, December 23, 2006). 

18 Please see Pinheiro, Francisco and Costa, Georgina (2005) Yec Long Firework Factory, a Chinese Relic Industrial Architecture. Published in the Hong Kong Institute of Architect Journal (HKIA), issue 41, first quarter 2005.

5. The COTAI strip study case The 1990’s COTAI plan was designed to support a residential population of

180,000 residents and 40,000 visitors to MICE and hotel. After the

liberalization of the gaming industry, private and public spaces like schools,

fire stations, markets, and residential places were all being “eat up”. Only the

race carting and a small golf course remain untouched because they are built

over garbage dumpling reclamation. Even if the population is rapidly

increasing, there is no space available for school, social facilities and

residence was removed from the 1999 plan (Fig.3). The new plan only

contemplates casinos and hotels (Fig 4), with few high class residential

complex, most of them inaccessible for local residents. There are no

hospitals, churches, and parks. Not surprising Macao citizens are moving to a

green landscape and better environment of neighboring Zhuhai19

Fig. 4. 1999 plan for COTAI. In “Macao present and future”, exhibition publish in 1999 by ICM, Macao

Fig 5. 2006 plan for COTAI. From www.hotel online.com, lunch in June 24, 2005

Casino and hotel developers bought even the space reserved for the

extension of Macao University of Science and Technology for about 10 billion-

a space exclusively given for education purposes by the government.

Legislative Councilor Ng Kuok Cheong even publicly criticized that “in this

case no one knows how much they sell for the site. The purpose of land use

has been changed without any announcement and public consultation”

(Macau Hoje, 13 February 2007). The land transaction process was

19 Many Macao residents move to Zhuhai that becomes one of the larger living quarters of Macao where 60% of the new building in Gongbei (Zhuhai-Macao border) belong to Macao citizens (in Hoje Macau daily, April 9, 2007).

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considered as a black box activity. Local residents also express their

dissatisfaction. The IACM (Institute for Civic and Municipal Affairs) also

received resident complaints about casino developments on the Taipa Lake,

an area that is just in front of a bird-reserved area with rich ecological value

(Macau Hoje, 13 February 2007). A local resident committee, Kai Fong, also

concerns about the lack of green spaces in the Taipa20 area and blame that

new developments have taken away most of their sport grounds, green

spaces and recreation sites (Macau Hoje, 21 June 2006). On the contrary, the

neighboring city, Zhuhai (China) seems very active in pursuing a green urban

policy. Their policy on “Green Drive” seeks to provide more open spaces with

golf courses and greenery in order to attract foreign investments (JTM, 12

March 2007). Perhaps within 5 years, Zhuhai may appear to be more

attractive for living and foreign investments than Macao.

Fig.6. Flowchart on the departments that have influences in the city urban planning, particularly the ones under the Secretary for Transport, Land and Public Works. The lack of coordination and cooperation affects both the vertical and horizontal organization levels.

6. A holistic plan is needed for sustainable development

20 In Hoje Macau daily, June 21, 2006. Wong Tiu Kao, vice president of the Consultative Council advise the head of the public works department, to proceed in a cautious and gradual, not in a fast way with the planning in Macao old quarters.

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Macao needs a holistic urban planning strategy to cope with the future

population growth and tourism development. Unfortunately, Government

officials do not share with this vision. Mr. J. Lourenco – head of urban

planning, once says that the priority of urban planning in Macao is “Economic

policy” followed by the consolidation of urbanism. He claims, “It is not true that

there is no urban plan”. Macao does not need a master plan but a

partial/sector plan seems more appropriate because it is more flexible and

creates less controversies. And single guidelines and laws governing

technical construction are also needed. Lourenco also points out “there is in

fact a general master map that is of the knowledge of Chief Secretariat”. In

other worlds, only few senior government officials know a master plan of the

City. The planning process is not transparent at all and only the few of them

can determine the fate of the City. Unlike Hong Kong and other cities, Macao

does not have a statutory channel for public inspections of town plans. It does

not have a transparent land sales system such as public auction or tendering.

Without these systems, cases of corruption have been found. The recent

arrestment of the Chief Executive of the former Public Works Department Mr.

Au Man Long is an example. After this event, a new secretary of Public

Works, Eng. Lau Si Lo takes up Ao’s position and stresses that the City needs

more transparencies in land transactions 21 . Other good news is the

announcement of the making of a new Master plan for Macao22. These are

positive steps for Macao development in a scientific and social responsible

way.

7. Fragmented coordination of Government department While the offices/bureaus under the Secretariat for Social Affairs and Culture

are responsible for making tourism and heritage polices and creating tourism

products, offices/bureaus under the Secretariats of Transport and Public

Works and Administration and Justice are tasked to translate the polices and

products into real town plans. For instance, the Land, Public Works and

21 May 6, 2007 in Ponto Final Daily 22 The news of a limitation of 90 meters height for Guia Hill towers was recently announced (in Ponto Final daily, June 14, 2007). Also was recently announced the elaboration by the Public Works Department of a Master Plan for Macau that will be submitted to public opinion.

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Transport Bureau are responsible for land management, urban planning,

project management, infrastructures, traffic and transport planning and

management. It controls and approves all projects and city plans (DSSOPT,

2006). The Infrastructures Development Office (GDI) takes care of the special

projects that involve private and government initiatives, for example, the

COTAI land reclamation between Taipa and Coloane Island. The Port

Authority (PA) and the Housing Bureau (HB), however, are charged with the

power to manage all affairs regarding the port, including the approval of

maritime engineering projects (Port Authority of Macao, 2007). The Civil

Aviation Authority monitors air traffic and buildings height that could affect air

traffic safety. Housing Bureau determining and implementing public housing

programs (Housing Bureau, 2007) respectively. Finally, the Institute for Civic

and Municipal Affairs (IACM) under the Secretariat of Administration and

Justice is in charge of the maintenance, renovation or rehabilitation works of

public spaces and facilities (IACM, 2006). Despite the clear roles defined for

each department and the repeatedly announced need of cooperation, poor

departmental and inter-departmental coordination remains one of the major

problems. Conservation projects are often initiated, planned and implemented

according to each department interests and knowledge and based on their

own subjective criteria.

Adding to the already large number of departments, several projects related to

creative industries (San Lazarus quarter, San Jan dang area, Tap Seac

Square, New Public Library, etc.) are under planning by private companies

like CAA, directed by a deputy of the Macao legislative council 23 . New

housing projects for the Mong Ha area where “made in Hong Kong” and

implemented in Macao. Tap Seac Square, another open space that was not

projected by the municipal planning board (as it is tradition and law) but

attributed directly without public consultation to private companies. There

were strong reactions to the design of this square, for example the tunnel in

“U” shape (difficult for ventilation and traffic safety) bringing questions about

23Dr Chui Sai Peng, is an important member of the commercial oligarchy of Macao and the director of CAA City Planning & Engineering Consultants Ltd.

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image of ghost houses.

the scientific value and the intended cultural meaning of the place24. This

situation could be avoided if there was transparency and public consultation.

For many of these situations of private companies doing plans for public

spaces represent an interference of the private sector in the competences of

the public administration, aggravating the situation of poor coordination

amongst departments. Projects are often done in an ad hoc and fragmented

manner. Due to the lack of departmental coordination, many of them are

poorly maintained and some were eventually de-classified. One example is

the historical buildings in the St. Lazarus district, Don Carlos dockyards, Lilau

square and surroundings presenting an unattractive

Fig. 7. The ghost image of S. Lazarus quarters.

Fig. 8. Empty houses at Lilau Square.

Fig. 9. The Don Carlos Dockyards

Fig. 10. Dilapidated row of houses in San Malou

Another example includes the planning of a new jail in a huge area in Coloane

just behind the CEM power station. The Public Works Department, which is

supposed to be involved in planning, is being neglected in the panning

process. Its Director mentions that they do not even know that the

Government has this project (Clarim, April 27 2007). Other department,

vacationed for the basic infrastructures, the GDI, holds the greatest power in

major infrastructure project in town. The planning power too centralized in one

department, which is unusual and unhealthy, in this case aggravated with the

lack of cooperation with other departments.25

24 Deputy Au Kam San questions about the tunnel “U” shape as well about the interpretation about this place as a coexistence between East and West culture (Ponto Final, 17 June 2007). 25 Often is asked, for example to department B, with a short time for answering, their opinion about a project run by department A (often in the last phase). However department B opinion is just considered that an opinion, that can be adapted or rejected without further justification.

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Developers need to use the maximum height as possible to make fast profits,

pressuring the government to relax existing urban rules and approve “ad hoc”.

According to the Decree Law 233/95/M, developments that exceed 100

meters are required to be submitted to the Macao’s Civil Aviation Authority

(AACM) for approval. The Aviation Authority comments that most buildings

near the Guia Hill do not follow the law of air corridor and public spaces.

However, since they do not represent a risk to aircraft navigation (due to the

modern accurate system of the airplanes) the buildings height was approved

without following the established rules 26 and dialogues and coordination

amongst different government departments.

8. Urban planning and tourism carrying capacity problem The lack of carrying capacity leads the government to impose more restrictive

measures like:

1) Restrictions to the Free Individual Travelers (FIT) visas in five southern

provinces. According with academics and industry operator like Angela

Leong (SJM) and Ung Choi Keong, this measure will result in revenue

lost for the tourism and gaming industries 27 , particularly to small

casinos.

2) Restrictions to the investment in real estate for obtaining the residence

rights. This already resulted in residential property dips 8%28

Although the above measures seem reactive to critics about the carrying

capacity, they are not beneficial to the City in a long term, particularly when

considering that the solution to increase our capacity is with good urban

planning solutions.

26 In Ponto Final Daily, January 31, 2007 27 Survey done by the daily Macau Hoje, May 28, 2007. 28 In Macau Business News, May 2007. http://macau.wordpress.com/2006/06/14/

The pro-active solution is to have a good urban planning that follows

“scientific and technology” knowledge, this is of great urgency and importance

for Macao’s development as was recommended by Macao’s Chief Executive29

Fundamental for Macao development is the increase of 13% percent on new

reclaimed areas, involving 298hectare (2.98 Sq km) announced in December,

2005 (Fig.11 ). This is a 20 years scenario, again to compensate for the lost of

COTAI area from residential to gaming functions. In this announcement30 was

estimated that the population would reach 610,000 inhabitants by 2023. 163

hectares of the reclaimed land were attributed for property developments

including residential, commercial and hotel. The remaining areas will be used

for green areas, leisure, public spaces and roads.

Fig. 11. The 2005 plan for increase Macao land by 13%, involving 298 hectare (2.98 Sq km). Areas; A) 105 hectare; residential, commercial, sports public parks and facilities for the community; B) 13 hectare. Large roads, promenade; C) 56 hectare. Low-density residential units; D) 130 hectare. Residential, commerce and hotels and E) 94 hectare. Commercial, residential, scientific park, social facilities, schools, markets. New jet foil terminal. Graphic and data from, Arquitectura Macau magazine, N. 12, summer 2006, (Architects Association of Macau). p 28 -29

29 Ponto Final daily March, 4, 2007. 30 In Macao Post and other dailies, December 5, 2005.

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9. Transportation capacity and future development possibilities: LRT case study. In order to cope with the influx of tourists and to bring the mass sheer

numbers of gamblers to the major casinos such as Galaxy and Venetians in

the Cotai area, there is a critical need to improve logistics, particularly the link

between Macao and the neighbor regions in the Pearl River Delta (Hanqging

Island, Zhuhai, Canton, Hong Kong) and with the international “gates” like the

airport and harbor. Electricity and water supply is well insured by the mainland

China. The airport will increase the capacity. A new bridge linking with Hong

Kong will bring million of visitors. An underwater tunnel will also link the Inner

Harbor (Bridge 16 area at the end of San Malou) with Wan Chai district in

Zhuhai31. Good links and the announced development of Henqging Island in

cooperation with Macao Tourism industry will support Macao growth,

contributing for alleviating the high density in Macao. The Island is considered

for Sands Corporation for developing their biggest tourism resorts in Asia32

which is about 5.8 square kilometers in size and is able cater for the

developments of MICE, hotels and golf courses. However this plan for

sustainable development has a bottleneck, which may collapse or malfunction

the city’s daily life and economy. This bottleneck is called the public

transportation system. Neither tourist nor citizens want to loose hours in traffic

jams, suffer the effects of pollution, urban heat etc.

To solve this bottleneck problem, a Metro system (Fig 12.) was proposed in

2004, after consultation with Hong Kong experts. Nothing was known to the

public until great pressures was made by the public sector to provide a

massive transportation system. The Light Rail System (LRT) has been

proposed by the GDI of the Government in May 2007 (Fig. 13), which is

responsible for several major infrastructure projects in town. The LRT has

been criticized as only creating a fast solution for bringing gamblers to major

casinos instead of solving the transportation problems of the inner city and

meeting the local needs. One of the results of this fast solution without holistic

31 Approved as a very important infrastructure during the cooperation conference Guangdong-Macau held in December 2007 (In JTM, December 9, 2007).

32  Announced in December, 4, 2007 (JTM) 

planning and strategy is that the propose circuit for the elevated Mass Transit

Railway will pass in front of several heritage and cultural buildings, obstructing

their perspective views, like the case of the Military Club, Government Red

House and the Bela Vista and Bomparto Fort (Figs. 15 to 18). The impact is

also heavy considering the large numbers of stations separated an average

distance of 640 meters in Macau peninsula and 610 m in Taipa and COTAI.

Fig. 15a. Present situation Military Club

Fig. 15b. After LRT Fig. 16a. Present situation, BNU bank

Fig. 16b. After LRT

Fig. 17a. Present situation, Government Palace

Fig. 17b. After LRT Fig. 18a. Present situation, Bela Vista

Fig. 18b. After LRT

Other very negative impact will be the cut of the ancient trees in Praia Grande

(Long Beach) or Nam Wan Avenue, the old waterfront of Macao.

Consideration of the LRT project is mainly financially driven. Factors included

in the consideration of choosing underground or aboveground railway are

mainly on the production and maintenance cost as well as some technical

concerns such as the feasibility for construction. There is no time to consider

social, environmental, and sustainable impacts of the project. The public is

also wondering whether the Government has carried out any EIA or SIA in

this project. Information given is very little. How high/low of the cost, how

large/small are the impacts etc. are missing. In addition, although the future

integration between Macao and China (Zhuhai) is one of the aims of the LRT

project, the GDI plan does not reflect this. Transportation route linking the Pier

16 project (which are now underway that will help brining tourist from the

China side to Macao) has not been considered and provided in the GDI plan.

There is also time to reach a consensus of the LRT project. Questions of

whether it should be underground, above ground, LRT or Monorail still

17

18

y a Study

(90

remained unresolved and are debatable within the community, although the

formal public consultation period has already completed at the end of May

2007. This leads to a Hong Kong giant developer, Gordon Wu, who

comments in his speech delivered in a local University that the “LRT is a bad

option”, because it will generate many negative impacts to the city (JTM 30

March 2007). He urges for a better urban planning in Macao by

comprehensively redeveloping the old squatters through urban renewal, in

order to give ways for new Mass Transit Railway (MTR) going underground

instead of aboveground as it can cover a larger area. On the top of MTR can

be new housing units. Land and harbor reclamation is needed for reallocating

tenants who needed to be removed from old squatters and improve the San

Ma Lou Avenue, making it a pedestrian way that support large number of

tourists and residents33. Although this proposal will cost about 10 billion,

which is much higher than the initial plan, Mr. Wu comments that there is a

real need to solve the traffic problems and concludes his speech by saying

that “If there is no courage to change now, Macao can’t be changed in the

next 60 years”.

GDI plan (Fig. 13) was discussed in two forums organized by a study group of

the Architect Association of Macau (AAM). All the participating members were

unanimous with regard to the ideas that the LRT proposal will have a very

negative impact in the older part of the city, particularly in the area close to the

Historical Center of Macao. This was classified recently as part of the Word

Heritage. AAM decided to propose an alternative plan elaborated b

Group (SG), which comprises with professionals in different fields.

AAM study group (AAM (SG)) proposed a faster circuit (Fig.14) with only 15

stations (spaced apart with an average distance of 900 m to 1 kilometer)

compared the GDI proposal has 26 to 23 stations (with an average distance of

600 meters). This makes the system run faster and contributes to an increase

in carrying capacity. AAM (SG) proposal has a less negative visual impact

because do not affect historical areas, has lesser but larger stations

meters long), providing 50% more volume per train than the GDI proposal.

33 In Ponto Final, March 30, 2007.

AAM (SG) also improves circuit. There are 15 stations in the red line, (express

way with larger capacity). Referring to Fig.14, the blue line represents local

loops that serve the inner areas of the city is created to separate between

tourist and citizen’s circuits, with intersection points in larger interface stations.

Other advantage is that the average distance between express line stations is

1070 meters in Macao peninsula and 1045 m in Taipa and COTAI. To

calculate the AAM proposal capacity, we consider that there are 30% less

stops in stations, with higher speed, than the GDI proposal. These factors

19

lone can contribute to 25% (or higher) in the capacity of carrying

passengers. Thus, we obtained the figure of 10,000 pphpd34 (AAM proposal).

a

Fig. 14. Alternative proposal of AAM (SG). Red line, (express way with larger capacity). Blue Line, local loops.

Fig, 12, The 2004 plan for a Mass transit system, which contemplate underground

entral line” and a loop for cal distribution

e expansion. Stations are 60-meter long

Larger stations of 90m long, representing 50%

s

th

e stations, providing a FREE cost for the government and benefiting real

Estate developers, a win-win situation. Why not chose the best alternative?

Fig. 13. GDI Map. Red line represents the phase 1. The Green line represents the intention of futur“c

loaccommodating 4 cars (400 passengers).

increasing in capacity to 6 car(600 passengers)

This number can be higher with larger stations of 90m long, representing 50%

increasing in capacity. Other aspect is that AAM (SG) circuit favors

development of large stations, mostly in reclaimed areas, where large building

complex, shopping malls and residences, parking, etc, can be integrated wi

th

34 Pphpd: People per hour per direction

20

This comparison of AAM (SG) and GDI proposal is mentioned here, not only

because of the public interest in this matter, but to show the benefits and the

need of cooperation with professional and academic bodies. This case of the

LRT is not unique in Macao’s urban planning. Other areas like tourism, public

and green areas, traffic, and public housing could benefit from this

cooperation.

10. Conclusions

all open

spaces and public resources for the sake of the gaming industries.

11. Recommendations

ow are elaborated the

evelopment plans than contemplate key factors like:

y education, health tourism (benefiting form the

ity due to the urban fabric (in the Historical Center, Inner Harbor,

acity, that should support the growing number of tourist and residents

The real estate interests are heavily influencing urban planning in Macao.

The City’s planning strategies tended to be biased towards the pro-growth

instead of sustainable development. To have Macao as the best place to bet

on earth or as an explosive firecracker depend on the choice of Macao

between two alternatives: sustainable and holistic development in a

transparent process with the citizen participation or keep the actual crazy race

and mess, giving a free hand for each one on its own eating up

The future success or failure of Macau depends h

d

1- To have a vision of what kind of city and society is wanted for the

future, particularly diversification of industries (focus on gaming) to other ones like universithotel capacity), MICE,

2- To elaborate a holistic plan for the all city with a clear zoning and

separate guidelines for the different parts of the city that have limited capacetc.)

3- To solve problem of the public transportation network cap

21

4- To increase the capacity for urban growth by way of land reclamation and more integration with neighbor territories, providing areas for recreation, social and public equipment etc.

5- To improve the logistics system, which have to be plan from outside to inside” perspective. (for example depending on water, energy, garbage treatment and transportation from China)

6- To improve the quality of the urban spaces have to be improved in order to keep the city attractive.

7- To allow more participation of scholars and professional in the city, to

foster more cooperation among government departments and have a transparent system of check and balance, recurring often to public consultation to significant project.

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