Work had commenced this morning on the Zhuyin water project, which would guarantee a stable water supply for Macao.

The start of construction was marked by a ceremony officiated by the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, and the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Huang Huahua, before the opening of Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Joint Conference 2008 today.

The Macao SAR Government has paid 450 million RMB in advance as future water charges for the construction of the project.

The ceremony also marked the circulation of the third water pipeline to Macao, a project that cost Macao 54 million RMB.

This pipeline would significantly enhance the capacity of water supply to Macao and the overall capacity would meet Macao’s demand until 2020, the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, said during the ceremony.

He said Macao and Guangdong had made much progress in co-operation of water supply following the signing of a framework agreement last year.

He especially thanked the Central Government and the authorities in Guangdong and Zhuhai for their support in tackling salinity in Macao’s water supply.