Authorities well prepared for new maritime sovereignty rule

The Macau Customs Service (SA) has started to enforce new measures after the central government granted the region sovereignty over the 85-square-kilometer nautical area off the region’s coast.
Beijing’s bestowal officially came into effect on Sunday, and Chief Executive Chui Sai On highlighted the importance of the measure during his speech at the ceremonies marking the 16th anniversary of the MSAR’s establishment.
“Given the significance of the central government’s supportive measures, we must ensure that the waters under the Macau SAR’s jurisdiction can be properly administered and appropriately used to effectively expedite adequate economic diversification and facilitate Macau’s sustainable development,” Chui claimed in his address.
However, the local government still has to seek confirmation from Beijing over any future reclamation. It was made clear that no gaming-related establishment would be allowed to be built on reclaimed land in the future.
Under the new rule, the parcel of land connecting the northern checkpoint and Zhuhai goes to the local authorities’ administrative sovereignty. Furthermore, part of the Canal Dos Patos, a waterway separating the mainland from the north of the Macau Peninsula, would also come under local control.
The administrable water area stretches down part of the waterway lying to the west of the Macau Peninsula’s inner harbor, all the way down alongside Taipa and Coloane before it turns eastwards, covering a large portion of the sea off the region’s eastern coast.
In a bid to make a prompt response within half an hour possible in the waters surrounding the region, the SA has activated its new command center and three operation bases.
According to an SA statement issued yesterday, officers have also been briefed about the add-on equipment and gear inside the center before they set out for patrol on Sunday.
The new facility takes in audio, video and radar signals from along the coastal areas of the region and nearby waters around the clock. The customs’ patrol vessels will also perform duties at the behest of the personnel from the center.
Together with the other three bases, the Customs personnel are reportedly capable of responding in 30 minutes to any contingency within the waters that is being managed by local authorities, the statement said. AU