The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, spent today visiting the older districts for a first hand look of how the people is living in the present financial climate.

He started at Fai Chi Kei, where he spoke to residents to hear their views ranging from the prices of commodities, housing and community services and facilities.

Residents told Mr Chui problems such as insufficient medical facilities for an aging community, the affects of gaming outlets in the neighborhood on the residents, noise, air and other environmental pollutions caused by the many on-streets garages in the area.

Accompanied by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, Chief of the Office of the Chief Exexcutive, Mr Tam Chon Weng and the President of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Mr Tam Vai Man, Mr Chui also visited a site where the older public housing blocks were torn down for reconstruction.

The group then went on to the main bus terminus to gauge the level of air and noise pollutions which the residents have often complained about.

On the way to a meeting with community representatives, Mr Chui also visited shops and spoke to shopkeepers about their operations.

At the meeting, Mr Chui told the residents that the Government was very concerned with rising prices and reassured them that new sources of food imports were being found to bring prices down, without compromising food safety.

He told residents the Government was also speeding up the construction of home ownership flats which prices would not be affected by price rises in the private market.

Mr Chui told the residents that he made proposal to the Central Government and he hoped to see mainland domestic helpers in Macao sometime next year: legislation for this would be drafted.

He disclosed the Government was reviewing the law next year to stop foreign domestic helpers switching to other occupations after arrival in Macao.

On the visit to the first government supported food bank in Caritas de Macau, the Chief Executive said extra fund will be allocated for charitable groups to run such services.

In the afternoon, Mr Chui rounded off his visit to a centre to help gaming addicts wean the habits, a primary school and a centre for young people with drug addict problem.

Mr Chui said he found today collection of views was very useful and he would study them carefully to see how he could incorporate them into his coming Policy Address.