The Government Information Bureau (GCS) will devote further effort to facilitate communication between the Government and the press, and between the Government and the public, said the new GCS Director, Ms Chan Lou.

The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today administered the oath of office to the GCS Director. The Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms Hoi Lai Fong, also attended the ceremony.

Ms Chan thanked the Chief Executive for his trust and affirmation. She said she would serve GCS with dedication and modesty.

Ms Chan said maintaining close communication with the press would be her priority. She would visit local news organisations and journalists’ associations, in order to garner their opinions and suggestions and to try to understand fully how to provide enhanced support for the industry’s development.

GCS would increase the use of new technologies and new media platforms to promote official information to the press and the public, she added.

Ms Chan said she would lead her team to provide stronger contribution to the efforts to integrate Macao in an active way within national development, highlighting the city’s success stories regarding the implementation of the “One country, two systems” principle.

Before joining GCS, Ms Chan was, from 2001 to 30 June 2020, the head of the Licensing and Inspection Department of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO). Prior to that, and while at MGTO, Ms Chan was also involved in research and planning; information technology; and administration and finance. In some cases, she worked as functional head or departmental head.

Ms Chan joined the civil service in Macao in 1990. Before working for MGTO, she was employed in the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau. While there, she was tasked with the development of information and technology systems.

Ms Chan holds two Bachelor’s degrees. One is in engineering and the other is in science. She also has a Master’s degree in public administration – with a major in international relations – offered jointly by the University of Macau and Portugal’s National Institute of Public Administration.

Since the COVID-19 alert and until the end of June, Ms Chan attended, on behalf of MGTO, more than 100 press conferences held by the Government’s Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre.