Chief Executive Chui Sai On yesterday led a government delegation to the provincial capital of Guangdong to exchange views on flood prevention measures with the province’s governor, Ma Xingrui and vice-governor, Deng Haiguang.
The visit is part of the government’s concerted effort to hasten the construction of a cross- boundary system to prevent or mitigate flooding in Macau’s low-lying areas, such as the Inner Harbor.
On the mainland side, a cross-border system would seek to protect low-lying areas in Zhuhai and Zhongshan.
But before detailed planning can begin, Chui requires the support of the Guangdong Provincial Government, just a week after Beijing approved in principle an intention to advance the project.
According to a statement from the government, the chief executive briefed Guangdong officials on the efforts and proposals made by the Macau government in recent years for flood control initiatives. He also expressed his gratitude for Guangdong’s prompt response and preparation for yesterday’s meeting with the MSAR government.
The two delegations agreed to strengthen communication via the existing Guangdong-Macau cooperation framework. The communication will focus on ways to coordinate the building of a flood prevention system, including the commencement of joint in-depth analysis for such a project.
The urgency of the cross-boundary anti-flooding system was renewed late last month after Typhoon Hato struck the city, bringing with it a 5.5-meter high tide and subsequently flooding parts of the city.
Hato, the strongest storm in Macau in more than half a century, killed 10 people, injured more than 200 and caused about MOP11.5 billion worth of economic damage, according to government estimates.
During the meeting, the Guangdong provincial governor, Ma Xingrui, extended his sympathies over the damage caused by the weather phenomenon and commended the local government’s search and rescue work in its aftermath.
Senior government officials accompanying Chui on his visit to Guangzhou included Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário, the director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Susana Wong, and the director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, Li Canfeng.
