The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, meets with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou.
The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, today had a meeting in Beijing with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou, to exchange views on the management of Macao’s waters, and to discuss how to prevent and combat smuggling activities.
The Macao SAR Government has been paying great attention to planning regarding the use of its waters. This follows the State Council’s decree in December 2015 outlining Macao’s administrative role regarding a maritime area of 85 square kilometres adjacent to the city, said Mr Chui.
The meeting held this afternoon aimed to provide the General Administration of Customswith further updates concerning the SAR Government’s plans for economic development relating those waters; and to receive further feedback and suggestions from the General Administration of Customs.
Mr Chui said he was grateful for the long-term support of the General Administration of Customs, in particular during the process leading up to the announcement specifying the city’s administrative role in relation to its surrounding waters.
Mr Yu noted the two sides signed in May two documents titled, respectively, “Cooperation Arrangement between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on the Prevention and Fight against Smuggling in Waters Managed by the Macao SAR and within Macao’s Land Boundaries”; and the “Cooperation Memorandum between the General Administration of Customs and the Macao SAR Government on Origin of Transshipment Cargo in the Macao SAR under Free Trade Agreements”.
As part of the process of implementing the aims set out in the two documents, a system for facilitating transshipment of cargo between the mainland and Macao had been created and had begun operation. The system effectively streamlined costs on transshipment of cargoes to the mainland via Macao, namely cargoes included in trade facilitated under free-trade agreements. Such a policy had been widely praised by the transport sector, Mr Yu said.
Mr Yu added that an extensive mechanism for bilateral communication had also been initiated, in order to prevent or if necessary combat the smuggling of goods, drugs and firearms. This was of significant importance to efforts aimed at limiting such illegal activities, he stated.
Today Mr Chui completed a three-day visit to Beijing and returned to Macao in the evening.
Officials of the General Administration of Customs attending today’s meeting included: Vice Minister, Mr Sun Yibiao; the Director of the Department of Customs Control and Inspection, Mr Wang Wei; and the Director of the Department of Processing Trade and Customs Bonded Operation, Mr Zheng Hanglong.
Macao officials present included: the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Vong Iao Lek; the Chief-of-Office of the Chief Executive’s Office, Ms O Lam; the Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; the Director of the Representative Office of the Macao SAR in Beijing, Ms Hong Wai; the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Mr Fung Sio Weng; the Director of the Marine and Water Bureau, Ms Wong Soi Man; the Director of the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau, Mr Li Canfeng; Consultant to the Chief Executive’s Office, Mr Kou Chin Hong; and Chief Advisor of the Policy Research Office, Mr Mi Jian.