The Macao Government will make an official application to the Central Government for the construction of an additional passageway into Zhuhai.

The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, told reporters this today at Macao International Airport as he left for Beijing, where he said he would meet with officials from the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to discuss the proposal.

According to the protocol signed between Guangdong and Macao governments during the annual Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference held in May, the Macao Government, on request, needed to formally apply for the building of a new passageway.

The new passageway, designed to accommodate the growing number of cross boundary travellers, will be adjacent to the Bordergate-Gongbei checkpoint.

Mr Chui said that he would also meet with Ministry of Commerce officials to negotiate on broadening sources of import goods to Macao and stabilising prices of commodities.

On reporters’ question on cash handout and medical voucher, the Chief Executive said people welcomed these two temporary policies, and that depended on people’s request, inflation and overall revenue, the Government would study the feasibility of launching these two policies again in 2013.

Members of the official delegations included the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chon Weng, the Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam, the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Wong Chan Tong, the Director of Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, and the Advisor of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Fung Sio Weng and Kou Chin Hung.