The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today held three meetings in Beijing to exchange views on how to strengthen cooperation in managing Macao’s waters and optimise planning in relation to Macao’s maritime area.
Mr Chui, who is on a three-day visit to Beijing, held respective meetings with the Minister of Transport, Mr Li Xiaopeng; the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Chen Lei; and Deputy Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Mr Shi Qingfeng.
Mr Chui said the visit to the Ministry of Transport in the morning was in order to give updates regarding the SAR Government’s work on regulation to manage Macao’s waters, and to hear the Ministry’s advice and suggestions regarding the regulation and the development direction of Macao’s maritime area.
The Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Macao SAR Government on Marine Traffic and Fairway Management for Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, a document signed in January, had helped foster further cooperation in marine traffic between the mainland and Macao, said Mr Chui.
It showed the Central Government’s significant support for Macao in authorising the city to manage a maritime area of 85 square kilometres, providing Macao with a greater number of opportunities for future development, added Mr Chui.
Mr Li said the existing partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Macao regarding maritime management and transportation infrastructure had achieved positive results: he believed the two parties would develop even closer ties, in particular in liberalisation of trade in services.
In another meeting, the Chief Executive and the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Chen, discussed issues relating to Macao’s waters and water resources, and how to maintain safety and quality of water supply to Macao.
Mr Chui said the cooperation agreement signed earlier this year between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Macao SAR Government – regarding water resources adjacent to waters administered by the Macao SAR – provided a strong basis for managing in a scientific and coordinated manner the waters surrounding Macao and those of the Pearl River Estuary.
Mr Chen said the meeting would facilitate further exchanges and cooperation in managing water resources, adding that his Ministry would use all efforts to ensure the quality of water supply to Macao, and would make further contributions to the city’s economic diversification.
In the afternoon, the Chief Executive held a meeting with Deputy Director of the State Oceanic Administration, Mr Shi, to discuss management of the maritime waters administered by Macao.
Mr Chui expressed his sincere gratitude to the State Oceanic Administration for its support regarding the management of Macao’s waters. Part of the waters surrounding Macao used to be referred to as the city’s “customary waters”, prior to the State Council confirming – in December last year – Macao’s administrative role regarding the 85-square-kilometre maritime area.
Mr Shi said the State Oceanic Administration would study closely the proposals raised by the SAR Government regarding managing Macao’s waters.
The Chief Executive is scheduled to have a meeting tomorrow (4 November) with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou.
Members of the Government delegation to Beijing included: the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Representative Office of the Macao Special Administrative Region in Beijing, Ms Hong Wai; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; the Director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Ms Wong Soi Man; and the Director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, Mr Li Canfeng.
Prior to his departure from Macao, Mr Chui said on Wednesday (2 November) the Government attached great importance to issues relating to public housing and transport. He noted a Macao court had ruled in favour of the Government regarding a reversion to the Government of land concessions at Avenida Wai Long on Taipa. The Government would prioritise a public housing construction project regarding use of that land, in order to fulfil the public’s demand for such amenities, he added.
Regarding the planning of the Light Rapid Transit System (LRT), Mr Chui said he believed details regarding the section to be proposed for Macao peninsula would be made public before the end of this year. The Government paid close attention to opinions from members of the Legislative Assembly about the project: nonetheless, construction of the LRT system was in line with needs outlined in scientific research and had the broad support of the public, Mr Chui added.
