The Government has been using every effort to respond to the challenges created by Typhoon Hato. The safety of the public is always a Government priority when dealing with emergencies, said today the Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On.
Mr Chui gave the assurance this afternoon – while Typhoon signal No. 8 remained in place – during a visit to the city’s Civil Protection Action Centre to hear a briefing on the effects of Typhoon Hato and the relief measures in place.
The Government had spared no effort in following up with the measures necessary in the aftermath of the typhoon and would give the public more information soon, said Mr Chui.
The Chief Executive stated he was saddened to learn the disaster had led to human casualties and resulted in a number of economic losses. While at the Centre, Mr Chui said he had directed the Industrial and Commercial Development Fund to review how to provide subsidy to businesses affected, while the Social Welfare Bureau had also organised temporary shelter for those people that needed it.
The Government had been paying close attention to the impact of Typhoon Hato, noting the flooding that occurred in several areas and the presence of storm-shattered glass in some streets. Government departments were striving to cope with the difficulties and to respond to the emergency, including ensuring the restoration of electricity, water and the mobile communications network.
In response to one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded in Macao, the Government had immediately initiated its civil protection mechanism and put in place a range of contingency measures. Macao’s emergency services had also activated their respective response mechanisms. The Office of the Government Spokesperson, the Civil Protection Action Centre, and related departments had been issuing warnings regarding typhoon-related developments and were urging the public to stay indoors or in a suitable safe place.
In light of today’s event, the Government would review its cross-departmental effort in response to emergencies, in order to optimise the city’s civil protection work, added Mr Chui.
In the evening, Mr Chui visited the neighbourhood near Garden of Flower City in Taipa to gain a better understanding of how local people’s livelihoods had been affected by the typhoon. Mr Chui also visited a bakery that at the time was still affected by the power blackout.