Government regrets Taipa-HK ferry suspension

The Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, today expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers by the suspension of ferry services between Taipa and Hong Kong. Mr Lau told reporters the Government would act accordingly to minimise the inconvenience, but he could not elaborate as the case was now before the court. A press release issued by the Office of the Secretary for Transport and Public Works last night noted that the Court of Second Instance had notified the Macao SAR Government yesterday to suspend ferry services connecting Taipa and Hong Kong, operated by COTAI Waterjets Ltd. Earlier, the Government had given approval for COTAI Waterjets Ltd to operate ferry services between Taipa and Hong Kong. A ferry company, North West Express, filed an application to the Court of Second Instance to overturn the Government's approval, the press release said. In response, the Government pleaded that a suspension would seriously affect public interest. Yesterday the Court of Second Instance informed the Macao SAR Government that it disagreed with the Government's explanation and decided that the suspension would remain in force, the press release noted. The Government would now wait for the outcome of the judicial procedure, the release said.