“No one can claim happiness, living next to misery”
An inspirational interview with Nuno Jorge, President of the Architects' Association of Macau and a tireless crusader for humanitarian causes.
Nine years after the Handover, how is Macau doing as a city? What is your opinion as a citizen and as an architect?
Macau has changed from a small, even quaint, town into a world city – more interestingly – a world famous city, but as there is “no free lunch”, we are also paying the price. I believe that much has been achieved considering the low starting point and general unpreparedness. It is a pity that, mainly due to corruption cases, we had urban solutions that never should have happened, as well as buildings that never should have been built in their current form, but I wonder what would have happened if previous administrations had seized the day earlier, in the way the current government has.... Perhaps my answer would be different.
One of the major achievements of this first post-colonial decade was UNESCO’s listing of Macau’s historic centre as World Heritage. Is Macau taking full advantage of that honour?
Generally speaking, no. We see outstanding work, such as that of the Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO), which must be lauded, but many other sectors do not really believe in heritage. I think that many people do not realise yet that the Heritage of Macau is not only part of its identity and something that distinguishes it from the surrounding cities, but is also “a goose that lays golden eggs”.
How could situations such as the one related to the Guia Lighthouse, which is facing imminent risk of being surrounded by skyscrapers, be avoided?
And what about the building that is creeping up behind Penha Hill, which until now was pristine in its silhouette? Perhaps one day we will have a statue of the famous “Godzilla” beast behind the Ruins of St.
Paul’s....
Very frankly, this is a question that goes backs to the Roman Emperors and their Praetorian Guard: “... and who protects the Emperor from his own guard?” Maybe we should review the performance of the Macau Heritage praetorian guard, whichever, or wherever, it is.
It is required to seek advice from the Cultural Affairs Bureau (CAB) whenever anything is built inside or around Macau’s historic centre, but they apparently rarely see any problem in even the most controversial projects, despite public outcry. Is it time for others, including more independent voices such as the Architects’ Association, to step up?
The Architects’ Association has indeed taken these matters very seriously, and this topic was the subject of its latest conference, held a few days ago in Macau. I call attention to the resulting recommendations, namely: – More transparency and efficiency in the building approval process, with clear guidelines on design and building quality standards, with designs serving firstly the interest of the end user, within the background of the common good, particularly in what concerns sustainability and energy efficiency.
– Building shape and position must be such that it will not contribute to creating or maintaining urban heath and “wall effect”. – The main view corridors and breezeways must be preserved and kept open, and no construction will be allowed if it deteriorates the natural light environment and ventilation of a neighbourhood.
– Major monuments must have their background visualisation protected, such as the view of the Ruins of St. Paul’s from the main stairs and frontal plaza, with proper buffers created. (This will be included in the revision of heritage law by the CAB.)
– A ridge-line free zone must be created in order to preserve the view of the traditional ridge-lines of the hills on the Macau peninsula from the main points of view, to include, but not limited to, the Penha Hill and Guia Hill ridge-lines. (This will be included in the revision of heritage law by the CAB.)
Local activists denounced the lighthouse case to UNESCO, prompting the UN body to urge the local government to better protect Macau’s heritage. What is your view on this issue? Should the activists have kept their feelings silent to save the government from such a delicate international embarrassment, or were they right in lodging those complaints?
I believe that we should only go to these international bodies after all local recourse has been exhausted. Actually, it could have been very damaging to Macau if the World Heritage classification had been removed. This is a very important subject, which deserves to be addressed with serenity and dialogue, enlisting the support of local bodies that can mobilise public opinion. Interviews like the one we are having now are a good example of this.
What about UNESCO’s reaction? Was it balanced, or should it have been stronger, to force change?
I suppose they did what they had to do.
Are there any other cases in which you feel strongly that costly mistakes were recently made, creating irreversible damage to our heritage?
To some extent. However, I worry even more about the future. As mentioned before, heritage policies must be in place, must be very clear and, most importantly, must be enforceable. We see nothing about maintaining the interiors and usage of buildings. Heritage is not only – or is very little – about merely preserving a façade, without other components. Maintaining just the facade is what, in Portuguese, is derogatorily called “Política de Fachada” [policy of appearances]. The whole of the building is heritage, and the spaces above these older (and lower) buildings are breathing spaces for the city.
Your fellow architect Carlos Marreiros believes that sooner or later Macau should try to expand its World Heritage listing to other sites, such as the St. Lazarus neighbourhood. Do you agree with a strategy pointing in that direction, namely, directing significant financial resources to that goal?
This is something that is long overdue. The old city is not a Disneyland park, surrounded by walls, without any interface with the surrounding spaces and environment.
Should our own heritage list (monuments, buildings and sites deserving protection) be updated to include, perhaps, post-modern edifices from the sixties?
Again, this is something that the Architects’ Association will support, because good architecture, as well as well-conceived public spaces, new or old, should be recognised. I believe that contemporary architects can be meritorious, and if so, their work should also be preserved. Heritage has a dynamic and evolving content. We cannot say that it stops now, or some years back, just that it will evolve and continue, hoping only that it will continue well. What we see here is a continual “rear guard” action, designed to sustain and survive, not to grow and develop.
The Portuguese Administration left Macau nine years ago without approving an Urban Master Plan, yet there were two new urban areas where such plans were drawn up and were being followed: the NAPE and Nam Van Lake districts. The current government revoked those plans, allowing ever-bigger skyscrapers to be built. What do you think of that?
Mostly, that it had no choice. As I mentioned at the beginning, Macau was not prepared for these events. I think we are all very fortunate that the current government seized the opportunity at hand to make Macau viable and a return destination for our youth who go abroad to study and seek self-improvement. That is not to say that all went well in this process. We are still waiting for the day when omelettes can be made without breaking the eggs....
As an architect, which of those new buildings do you see as positive – and which do you see as negative – additions to the city’s landscape?
A city is a dynamic entity. The problem lies in whether we have a good instruction manual (a good set of guidelines) on how to use it and whether we are following it correctly. Per se, it is difficult to say if a building is a positive or negative addition to the landscape; that depends on the instruction manual. At the risk of being unfair, since it’s not possible to cover all instances here – that would be a subject for another interview, if not an academic paper – I’ll refer to the recommendations from the “New Architecture and Urbanism” conference as “instructions”. I would say buildings that block air flow, depriving the population living behind them of basic rights of ventilation (such as summer monsoon southern winds); impose on the natural silhouette of the city (particularly in iconic spots of historic value or specific interest to tourism, such as Penha Hill or Guia Hill); block natural sunlight; or deteriorate the current open views of the river and the islands, a view which is part of the charm of Macau and a psychological release from the density of the city, should be subject to careful consideration.
I suppose that my opinion may very well be unfair to the developers. It does not reflect negatively on the individual merits of each building but rather stresses the need for this clear “instruction manual” for the functioning of the city, in which the good of the many for years to come must be paramount, rather than the short term profit of an investor. The price of each of these buildings is being paid not only by the buyer, but also by the general population of Macau, in terms of both quality of life and a reduction in the attractiveness of Macau as a “beautiful city” and a quality destination for tourists, something so important for our economy. Again, this is the case of the goose and its golden eggs. As to those that are a positive addition, there are, fortunately, many more, and some of the highest calibre, in fact, so many that we don’t have time to name them all in this interview!
A light rail system has been announced as the solution for Macau’s traffic problems. After expressing opposition to routes that would have a negative impact on heritage and the environment, are you happy with the changes the government has introduced in the project? Do you support it in this present version?
I think a balance must be struck between the need and the cost of a mass transit system and the characteristics (some would say the “nature”) of Macau. I do not think that the solution adopted, namely that of wide platforms for a light rail, meets this balance; indeed the patient may be worse off with this remedy. I feel that a monorail – particularly the new type with just one rail for a train on each side – could be a compromise. We see this solution successfully applied in many cities, Sydney being a striking example. However, looking at the suggested circuit, I wonder whether it wouldn’t be possible to build a mostly underground system, which would be ideal. Still, since the main objective is to facilitate traffic to the casinos in COTAI, I hope that the current economic crisis and the resulting suspension of further development will allow us time for a reassessment of the available and possible solutions.
In the meantime, traffic could be eased by allowing more use of the Nobre de Carvalho bridge (“the old bridge”), say, opening it to traffic during selected periods and allowing hotel shuttle and tourist buses to use it as well – unless some ponderous reason such as a deteriorated stability of the bridge pre-empts that. Additionally, I think that a solution for a seamless transition between sea surface transportation and air transportation is very urgent; the current system (and sea terminal) has aspects worthy of a third world country, something that Macau certainly is not. A new and proper sea terminal by the airport is an urgent must, and holds the added benefit of freeing a prime site for construction, in a way that has very little effect on the rest of the city; actually, the development of the freed land, I believe, will handsomely pay for the construction of said new, comprehensive sea terminal.
The economic boom of the last decade funnelled a lot of money into the economy but also encouraged corruption, namely in the public works sector. What can be done to make sure projects are approved according to their merit and not due to kickbacks and other backstage manipulations?
That is the 64 thousand dollar question. Corruption problems are rampant in much of the world, so it would be a surprise if Macau did not suffer from them. There are international recommendations from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, as well as others, such as those from Transparency International (a body founded by the UN and the World Bank), with many chapters in countries around the world and which have proved their mettle, for instance, in Chile. Corruption is well-fought not only by repressive means, but also, and better, by pre-emption. Laws and regulations must be short, simple, easily understood by everyone, and procedures must be transparent – thus the name ‘Transparency International’.
Actions such as those taken by the Macau Anti-Corruption Committee are, naturally, a plus, and I strongly support their commendable intention in extending their sphere to the private sector as well. The Architects’ Association, actually,
participated in some of their actions to this effect and will always be a willing partner in those endeavours. Corruption and its cousin, nepotism, are a drag on the development of a society; the situation in many undeveloped countries (among others in the developed world, as well) is an objective proof. This is why corruption is so severely punished in China, and with good cause: the economic and social development of the population and the collective well-being may be affected or even derailed.
Were you deeply shocked when you realised the full extent of the corruption crimes of which former Public Works Secretary Ao Man Long was accused? Were you shocked in any way by the length of the prison terms he and others are serving now?
As I said, I would have been surprised if nothing of the sort had happened, particularly under this high economic growth we have witnessed lately and with the objectives of the hardly scrupulous speculators; let’s not forget that corruption implies two partners. Of course, public officials may also have recourse to extortion, in which one has to pay in order to get what is legitimate, anyway, but that is a different matter. As for being shocked by the punishment, that depends on whether you mean too much or too little. I believe that holders of public trust must be even more severely punished for the breach of this trust. Still, let’s not forget that all that happened needs two hands, both of them greedy and both negligent of the public good.
It seems to me that most local architects resent the fact that they had no intervention whatsoever in a great number of the new buildings recently built. Is that a fair assessment? Would more public bids, including proposal competitions, help?
I would say the scope of the problem is much wider, inasmuch as most of the big projects are built by non-locals, with only a small intervention from a “local architect” who has little or no negotiating power, especially since, conceivably, there is always someone else waiting in the wings who may be more accommodating. The need for a professional association within public law [de direito publico] is more and more pressing. If it had been in place earlier, perhaps the damage from the corruption cases mentioned would have been lessened. The project to convert the Architects’ Association into a proper professional institute languished – it’s not surprising, now – in the hands of former Secretary Ao Man Long. Though it still has not seen the light of day, I fully believe it will in the very near future.
Globally, how do you evaluate the performance of Edmund Ho’s government?
I believe the performance of each government needs to be put in context before being evaluated, since there are many historical, cultural, political and economic forces to be considered. Thus, I am fully confident Edmund Ho has served the best interests of Macau. However, it is easier to evaluate the performance of the Chief Executive himself, and I am sure that history will judge him well. I believe we must be objective in these matters and not let the controversy of the moment guide us. No road is without bumps, no travel without storms; it is how the captain of the ship rides these storms that will make his reputation and determine his legacy.
Dr. Edmund Ho inherited a government lacking any top official with previous high government experience, and many department heads were changed, as well, during the Handover on the night of December 19th, 1999. Compare this with Hong Kong’s transition, in which the full government, with the Chief Secretary at the head, went from the pier of the Britannia to stand behind the new chief executive. I believe Dr. Ho rode this storm well with what he had at hand.
He received a treasury quite empty and an economic crisis of great proportion; now he will leave a treasury of over 70 billion patacas and a good income for the territory, as well as many benefits for the population. I believe he also rode that storm very well.
Macau was struggling to survive as a distinct entity, a poor cousin of Hong Kong. Macau was in danger of being absorbed by the growing economies (and cities) of the neighbouring Pearl River Delta. No one can claim now that Macau does not have a strong identity and a vocation that distinguishes it from Zhuhai and Hong Kong in a sustainable way. This storm was also well overcome.
Macau had a brand new airport, but it was not well known internationally; many airlines which used to fly here ceased operations. Macau is now a city well known in the world, occupying pages and pages of some of the most relevant international publications, even making it onto the programmes of such reputable TV stations as the BBC.
Macau had dubious security and was not really a sophisticated place. I believe that we can now walk through the town in safety, and, as for sophistication, it’s here for everyone to see. No doubt the hand of the captain was steady and sure.
Our Chief Executive did manage the difficult task of applying the “One Country, Two Systems” concept and successfully maintained the harmony of all communities resident in Macau, not least the Portuguese and Macanese, and I, at least, am very appreciative of that. But, above all, because he had the courage and determination to “grab a tiger by the tail”, he made Macau viable, as I said in the beginning, and a place with a future for our youth. Now many of these young professionals may realistically choose to return to their homeland after having pursued further education abroad. I believe this makes him a great captain, one who managed to ride out the storms very well. And history will confirm that.
You have recently become one of the most notorious local advocates of environment-friendly policies. Again, how do you assess the government’s work in this area?
I have always been an advocate of the
environment – ever since my student days. We were once privileged in Macau not to have many problems in this field, since it was a small town with many gardens and green areas and very few polluting industries. In my university days I confirmed my feeling that environment is a major component of architecture and town planning, as it is the basis of the living environment. I refer to recent comments from Prof. Edward Ng who mentioned the absurdity of parents spending hefty amounts of money on the education of their children while not being concerned with the environment those children are going to inherit and live in – or words to that effect.
The first conference related to climate change in which I participated was held in 1991 at the International Federation of Red Cross Societies in Geneva. It dealt with preparedness in the face of natural disasters derived from global warming. Unfortunately, not many people took this seriously.
I was privileged, after many other meetings, to be present last year at the NGO/DPI (Non-Governmental Organisations Associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information) session at the UN in New York, which preceded the General Assembly and was led by the Nobel Peace Prize-winning IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). There I was presented with “climate disruption”. It was the urgency of this matter that made me a more visible advocate in Macau, as problems such as water, energy, increase in food prices, changes in storm patterns and others are beginning to affect us all.
Similarly, I suppose that the government’s attention was directed to the gravity of this situation only recently. I know that China is taking this matter very seriously, recognising that there are still so many opportunities for improvement, but I also see in Macau very encouraging signs. There are very able people, namely in the Macau Energy Development Office, among others, very much concerned with this problem and with the solutions to deal with it. Although this is a very good and hopeful sign, it is also just a beginning. The Architects’ Association, in its latest conference, presented many recommendations to this effect, and we hope they will be implemented as soon as possible.
You have spent many years as president of Macau’s Red Cross, and you currently chair an international federation of NGOs that deal with drug abuse and other family-related problems. Are you happy with the way local authorities manage social issues?
Macau has been an isolated “paradise” in these fields, as in many others, compared with the rest of the world. I believe that we must wake up to the issues regarding globalisation and extend a hand to our neighbours both near us as well as in distant parts of the world, to see and exchange experiences and solutions. Drug abuse and many family-related problems are also public health concerns. We do not need to reinvent the wheel – the solutions available are mostly technical and can be easily adapted with allowance for cultural differences. I am glad that my participation in these international bodies has brought international expertise and opinions to Macau, both at the 2007 IFNGO (International Federation of Non-Governmental Organisations for the Prevention of Drug and Substance Abuse) World Conference and the United Nations “Beyond 2008” South East and East Asia Consultation Conference.
I must mention a very important document derived from the latter conference – the “Macau Resolution” – which reaffirms worldwide the dignity of the Human Being, including the drug addict, and reinforces measures of harm reduction both for public health purposes and for the protection of innocent parties, such as family members. It will also let the world know that Macau is not only an “entertainment paradise”, but also has high social and humanitarian standards and concerns.
The IFNGO is recognised by the UN not only as a registered NGO, but with an official observer status and seat at the UN-ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council). That implies working relations with all the UN bodies under it, such as UNESCO, the WHO (World Health Organisation) and, most importantly, the UNODC (United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime) in Vienna, with which we have a privileged working relationship. I am glad that this will offer the government bodies in Macau access to the many NGOs specialised in these matters, access which they might have otherwise found more difficult to obtain. I am glad that, as the President of the IFNGO, I was instrumental in obtaining an invitation from one of the IFNGO’s members – the ANCD (Australian National Council on Drugs) – for the Macau AIDS Committee to visit and observe their projects. I suppose that this invitation was taken advantage of and that the Macau AIDS Committee did visit Australia recently.
I understand some of the difficulties Macau faces, namely the acceptance by the population of some new measures – this is when information and leadership are called for.
About which activities from the vast array in which you are involved (the Rotary is just one more I can think of) do you feel most passionate? Likewise, as an architect, of which projects are you most proud?
Let’s talk about architecture first. This will be short, as I do not wish to concentrate on my professional career. I am proud of all my projects, whether more or less successful or eye-catching, as they were all done with my full concern and dedication. I believe that, in the same way that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, the built architectural design is judged by those who see it, or use it. Naturally, it is very gratifying to receive an international award or a recognition of professional merit or valour from the authorities, but, ultimately, the final appreciation lies with the public. However, I shall mention one that was also an act of brotherhood: the concept for the interior arrangements of the ‘outreach centre’ recently inaugurated by the ARTM (Association for the Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers of Macau) in a back street of Areia Preta. It was a very small job but one from which, I feel, I got back much more than I gave. We are no longer in the times of “Oliver Twist” or “Les Miserables”. Every person is a human being, with all the rights attached to that, including dignity and solidarity, and drug addicts are human beings. In the same way that poverty anywhere menaces prosperity everywhere, no one can claim happiness, living next to misery.
Thus, I progress to the second part of the question. The philosophy of Rotary Service – the concern of the Rotary for the Human Being – is a very compelling one which opens the door to many avenues. Many Rotarians participated in the founding of the UN, and the Rotary’s 1933 ‘Declaration of Human Rights’ was one of the sources for the ‘UN Declaration of Human Rights’. It was only natural that this opened the door for my involvement with the Red Cross and the other humanitarian organisations which followed, but I must mention that these interests were brought home to me earlier, as my father was one of the founders of Rotary in Macau, back in 1947, and was also with the Macau Red Cross as Vice President and then President. So, you could say, the family went full circle.
From all this, I derived a strong conviction about the sanctity of Human Life and the Dignity of the Human Being. In reality, these are the foundations of the International Humanitarian Law. It is well said that, once bitten by the Red Cross, you will carry these ideals – these passions – forever.
Your father, Mr. Adolfo Jorge, was for many years in the 50s and early 60s the political leader of the Macanese community. Have you ever considered following a political career, yourself?
Naturally. My father was a great friend and a great example to me. He lived in a period of Macau´s history of which little remains. Macau was a part of Portugal, in the same way that Hawaii or Alaska is part of the USA, but it was also a remote and closed society of Chinese and Macanese, as well as Portuguese immigrating from Europe, some of whom stayed and became Macanese, others of whom came for a short period of public service. In this bygone social and political environment he did what he had to do, as he saw it.
Now Macau is very different and a part of China. The society has opened, with globalisation and new means of transportation and communication, and it is no longer a closed territory. We have “One Country, Two Systems” and a fifty-year (now forty-one-year) transition period for full integration with the Chinese Nation. Decidedly, circumstances are very different... as are the needs of Macau. Macau now has to reach out to the outside world and breach its social barriers, in the same way that its borders have changed. The challenge now is the international position of Macau, in opposition to its city-centric old ways. Macau needs to reach beyond itself in order to grow, prosper and improve. The citizen of Macau is also a citizen of the world. I was attracted by this challenge and responded to it.
I do not believe that politics are restricted to politicians, in the same way that I do not believe in the exclusivity of a professional army. Defending one’s home or one’s planet, physically and otherwise, is a right and a duty of the citizen. In this sense, any social agent inevitably also influences political decisions. As I said, times have changed. And it is my turn to do what I have to do, as I see it.