The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, returned to Macao today after a five-day visit to Beijing and Sichuan. Upon arrival at the Macau International Airport at dusk, Mr Chui told the press that he had visited the Ministry of Commerce to exchange views with officials on the introduction of domestic helpers from Mainland to Macao. He said the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr Tam Pak Yuen, would follow up on the details of setting up a mechanism for this and he was optimistic that it would materialise soon. Mr Chui also said he had cordial meetings with officials of the Beijing municipality. He said the Secretary for Economy and Finance had led a business delegation of about 80 to attend the first China Beijing International Fair for Trade in Services and their participation had enhanced links with Beijing in different areas, particularly in trade and services. Speaking about the reconstruction projects in Sichuan, which had suffered devastating earthquakes in 2008, Mr Chui said the Macao SAR Government and the Macao Foundation had jointly sponsored 5.5 billion patacas for 105 projects. He said that the constructions of 103 projects had been completed and the other two projects were scheduled to be finished by September. The construction quality of these projects would be tested and their accounts would be audited, he said. Asked by reporters about the prospect of round-the-clock custom services between Zhuhai and Macao, Mr Chui said that Guangdong and Macao would try to extend the opening hours of the checkpoints and provide round-the-clock services ultimately, in accordance with the Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement. As for the new passageway announced in the previous Guangdong-Macao conference, he said that the two governments had been working on a proposal to be submitted to the Central Government. He said he would visit Beijing again with Secretary for Transport and Public Works Mr Lau Si Io to meet the related ministries and commissions and introduce the proposal for this new passageway.
