CE to hold coastal water management talks

Chief Executive Chui Sai On will be discussing Macau’s marine sovereignty with mainland authorities, as he visits Beijing next Tuesday to Thursday.
The government’s office spokesperson said in a statement yesterday that Mr Chui will be holding talks with relevant Chinese authorities to further discuss Macau’s coastal water management model, as well as to examine the city’s new customs mechanism.
Last month, Macau Customs Service chief Lai Man Wa stressed that the region’s economy could benefit from the delimitation of local marine sovereignty.
Authorities have been discussing with mainland China a scheme to ensure Macau’s right to manage its coastal waters. Chinese president Xi Jinping announced while visiting last December, that China and Macau had begun talks to ensure the delimitation of maritime sovereignty.
Mr Chui will be meeting with the director of the PRC’s General Administration of Customs, Yu Guangzhou, and the director of the State Oceanic Administration, Wang Hong.
Macau Customs head Lai Man Wa, the Chief Executive’s cabinet head, O Lam, the coordinator of the Government Information Bureau, Victor Chan, and the coordinator of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Fung Sio Weng, are all part of Mr Chui’s delegation traveling to Beijing this time.
Currently Macau does not have jurisdiction over all of its surrounding waters. Government officials believe that the new scheme could promote diversification of the region’s economy, while also boosting cooperation with the province of Guangdong. CP