On the 29th, the Macao Special Administrative Region announced the administrative regulations for the "2025 Cash Sharing Plan", which stipulate that residents must meet both the "identity conditions" and the "conditions for being in Macao" in order to receive cash sharing. This is the first time since the implementation of the plan that adjustments have been made to the distribution conditions. According to this regulation, "identity condition" refers to holding a valid or renewable resident identity card as of December 31, 2024. The newly added "condition for being in Macau" refers to being in Macau for at least 183 days throughout 2024. Permanent residents who meet the criteria will receive MOP 10000 per person, while non permanent residents will receive MOP 6000 per person. In order to cater to specific groups, regulations stipulate that three categories of individuals, including those under the age of 22 and whose parent is eligible to receive cash sharing within 2024, are exempt from calculating their time in Australia. The regulations also make exceptional provisions, which consider situations where one is not in Macau due to eight reasons such as education, hospitalization, or retirement as being in Macau. They can apply to include the relevant time in their stay in Macau, and after calculation, if they meet the standard of 183 days in Macau, they can receive payment. The cash sharing program in Macau has been implemented since 2008, mainly to cope with the impact of the financial crisis on the social economy at that time and to combat the living pressure brought by inflation on Macau residents. The SAR government provides cash subsidies to permanent and non permanent residents. The amount and timing of annual distribution have been adjusted since then, and the distribution conditions have remained unchanged. Macao SAR Chief Executive Cen Haohui proposed in this year's policy address to improve the cash sharing scheme, and the saved expenses will be used to enhance people's welfare and promote community economic development. For example, increasing the amount of pension, respect for the elderly, disability allowance, unemployment allowance, issuing childcare allowance, and providing more targeted assistance to vulnerable groups in need of care. Zhang Yongchun, spokesperson for the Macau SAR Administrative Council and Director of the Administrative and Legal Department of the SAR Government, stated that after listening to public opinions, the SAR Government has improved the distribution conditions while maintaining the original amount and distribution method, making the use of public funds more precise and in line with the original intention of the plan. Zhang Yongchun also pointed out that the exception provisions include living, studying, working in the Hengqin Guangdong Macao Deep Cooperation Zone, as well as working in mainland cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area. The purpose is to cooperate with the SAR government to promote the integrated development of Hengqin in Macau and encourage Macau residents, especially young people, to work and start businesses in the Greater Bay Area. (New Society)