Macau residents to get another round of cash handout
Macau permanent residents will again receive a 10,000-pataca handout next year, with non-permanent residents getting 6,000 patacas, its Chief Executive Ho Iat-seng announced on Tuesday.  The annual cash handout, which dates back to 2008, is among a slew of tax incentives and social welfare measures the SAR government is extending.  "On the premise of adhering to the principle of managing finances prudently, we make sure to continue allocating resources for education, medical care, people's livelihood and social welfare," Ho said in his latest Policy Address.  The Macau leader also pointed out that the return of tourism has given the gaming hub’s economy a massive boost. "For the first half of 2023, our gross domestic product grew by 71.5 percent year-on-year in real terms, and the overall economic output returned to 71 percent of its level during the same period in 2019," he said.