Gov’t expresses shock and concern over Paris attacks

An image is painted on a garage door opposite an attacked restaurant on Rue de Charonne, Paris

The government has expressed its shock and concern over the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, France, and has extended its sympathy and deepest condolences to victims and their families. The condolences were conveyed in a statement issued yesterday by the Government Information Bureau.
The declaration was released following a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, consisting of mass shootings, suicide bombings and hostage-taking. As this newspaper goes to print, at least 129 people have been reported to have died, and a further 352 have been injured, including 99 people who are described as being in a critical condition.
As a result of the terrorist attacks, the Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) has issued a travel security alert for France, warning Macau residents who plan to travel there to closely monitor the situation, assess the security risks, and reconsider their travel plans carefully.
In addition, Macau residents in France have been urged to stay vigilant and strengthen their own security precautions.
The Embassy of China in France also issued urgent advice to its citizens. The embassy recommended that Chinese citizens in France stay at home and avoid leaving their residences, to follow the news closely, and to cooperate with police inspections.
“Some terrorist attacks took place on the 13th of November. President François Hollande has declared a state of emergency in France. The borders are closed and the French government is taking emergency measures,” read the statement issued by the embassy.
As an international tourism destination, Macau has well-­established protocols for responding to large-scale crises and emergency situations.
Although the terrorist threat level in Macau has always remained low, the SAR’s security forces stage regular simulation exercises to strengthen inter-departmental coordination and rescue capacity. In addition, the security forces participate in counter-terrorism meetings, intelligence exchanges and bilateral anti-terrorism exercises with their counterparts in neighboring regions. Staff reporter