River of no return

The past decade has indeed seen Macau ’s increased prosperity and economic expansion. Brand name manufacturers launch their Flagship stores here with confidence in attracting big spenders both locally and overseas. Luxury high rises grow in number like bamboo shoots after a spring shower. Macau ’s convention and exhibition facilities have also drawn people from all over the world. There has been a prestige boom bigger than ever before. We who belong to the education sector have also got a considerable share of the benefits. Substantial government subsidies have led to more sophisticated teaching aids and equipment. Added to this are better teaching enhancement programmes. Not to be neglected is the twelve- year free education.

But everything has happened far too soon and at too rapid a pace. Alongside the growth in the number of brand name shops are soaring land costs and rental rates. Many medium and small entrepreneurs, with less power in the competitive market, are under pressure to wind up their businesses. House ownership has also gone beyond the ability of the man in the street. Real estate agents and developers are making handsome profits while blocks of flats, sold but unoccupied, serve only to remind the residents of the impossible dream of being a flat owner. Large tracts of open land which used to be favourite bird haunts have also been taken up by the various casino empires. The increasing tourist population has made outing a less than pleasant experience. Any desire to go out is dampened by the high density of cars and people everywhere, made even worse by the exhaust emissions.

Macau is heading off for a brighter future only in terms of its prosperity and material wealth but that has come with too high a cost. Gone is the life of tranquility and simplicity. Like a river of no return, the good old days are lost forever.