DSE: Local fuel prices not aligned with global prices

The deputy head of the Macau Economic Services (DSE), Tai Kin Ip, said on Friday that the Bureau had found price variations for local petroleum products out of step with international petroleum prices, claiming the government will analyse the current data further to determine whether local fuel and gas prices are, in fact, reasonable. “Between February and April this year, there were adjustments in international prices for petroleum products. We saw that the local petroleum retailers did follow the international adjustments to adjust their retail prices. However, we found that their adjustment range differs from the international one,” Mr. Tai said whilst participating inTDM Radio show Macau Forum. Nevertheless, the DSE deputy director did not expand on the difference, claiming, “based on our analysis on the imported prices for petroleum products, the price adjustment [of retailers] is not related to the import [prices], as well as the [quantities] in store and consumed.” Mr. Tai hopes the future implementation of the Consumer Protection Law will give more power to the government to supervise the prices of fuel and gas products in the city. “Currently, the government wants to increase its transparency regarding releasing information about petroleum prices… so that residents can supervise the adjustment of gas and fuel prices together with the government… We hope the future Consumer Protection Law will grant more power to the government regarding supervising the price adjustments of petroleum products,” he said. Consumer Protection Law may enter legislation in Nov Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the city’s Consumer Council, Lewis Chan Hon Sang, who also participated in the radio show, said the government is striving to pass a bill on the Consumer Protection Law for legislation procedures in November of this year. According to Mr. Chan, the working group drafting the law bill is now improving the articles and regulations in the bill. Claiming the framework of the law has been determined, Mr. Chan said the future Consumer Protection Law will address the operational misbehaviour of local businesses and the risks of new consumption styles. He also said consumers’ ‘right to know’ and claim rights will be strengthened by the new law. Top priority, says Sonia Chan In fact, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Sonia Chan Hoi Fan, also said on Friday that the Consumer Protection Law, together with the Budget Framework Law and Tenancy law would be the priorities of the government to submit for legislation. “We may discuss with other Secretaries listing bills for the Consumer Protection Law, Tenancy Law and Budget Framework law for legislation as soon as possible, because these bills are of concern to many citizens,” the Secretary told reporters on the sidelines of an event at the University of Macau on Friday morning. Currently, only six bills have been listed for legislation within this year; namely, the bills on regulating property management and on interregional judicial assistance in criminal cases, new taxi regulations, amendments to the current economic housing law, smoking ban, and anti-drug law. On the other hand, the Secretary said the review of the central recruitment programme for public servants would start this July. She also claimed last Thursday night that the government would announce the first batch of plans for restructuring the functions of government departments within this year.