Macao signed three cooperation agreements with the mainland at Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government headquarters Tuesday, aimed at strengthening management of 85-square-km sea area administered by Macao SAR.
The Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and the Macao SAR Government on Marine Traffic and Fairway Management for Waters Administered by the Macao SAR inked Tuesday is to foster mechanisms for dealing with emergencies and develop information sharing methods between Macao and the mainland, it is said in a press release.
The second document -- the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Macao SAR Government on Water Resources adjacent to Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, seeks to ensure there is adequate capability to maintain flood prevention systems for the land adjacent to the waters and waterways of Macao and the land adjacent to the Pearl River Estuary.
It also aims to protect the marine environment, local water ecology and further the sustainable development of Macao and the areas of the Pearl River Delta.
The Cooperation Agreement between the State Oceanic Administration and the Macao SAR Government on Maritime Development within Waters Administered by the Macao SAR, aims to better coordinate maritime development so that Macao is able to play a more active role in promoting the nation's strategy for the maritime economy.
The third agreement also states that any proposal for land reclamation has to be reported to the State Council, and that no commercial gaming element is permitted in any new land reclamation project.
The signing of the three agreements will help advancing cooperation between Macao and the mainland in navigation, water conservancy and development of the sea zone as well as escalate Macao-Guangdong ties to a new level, the release stated.
At a meeting between the SAR government and 30-member delegation from mainland held after the signing, works concerning the transfer of management responsibilities of the maritime zone were discussed.
Macao SAR government promised at the meeting to be committed to realizing full implementation of the three new agreements inked and perform its duties in maintaining security within the waters and in managing transportation arrangements in the coastal area as well.
The cross-departmental task force led by the chief executive will take charge of follow-up work.
