The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, said Macao was looking forward to closer ties with the European Union (EU) in order to promote further the city’s development.
Mr Chui made the comments on Tuesday (12 December) at Santa Sancha – the official venue where the Chief Executive receives guests – during a meeting with EU representatives and consular representatives of some EU countries based in either Hong Kong or Macao.
The Chief Executive welcomed the 19-member delegation and thanked it for the EU’s sustained interest in, and engagement with, Macao’s socio-economic development.
The Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao, Ms Carmen Cano de Lasala, said the EU was pleased to have witnessed Macao’s achievements over the years, especially in terms of economic diversification.
During the meeting, Ms Cano said the EU would keep in close contact with Macao regarding the EU’s decision – announced last week – to include the city on its list of “non-cooperative” taxation jurisdictions.
Mr Chui stressed the Government had a different view of the issue than that implied by the EU’s decision, saying the Government had been closely working with international bodies – including the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the EU itself – in the fight against cross-border tax evasion and the promotion of a fairer taxation system worldwide.
The Government would study closely the EU’s comments once the official document from the EU was received. In the meantime, the two sides would keep in close touch, said the Chief Executive.
Mr Chui added the Government was working diligently on the adoption in Macao of the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, an initiative of the OECD. The adoption of the Convention would be helpful in ensuring Macao was taken off the EU’s list of “non-cooperative” taxation jurisdictions.
Other topics discussed during the meeting included: the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the city’s infrastructure planning in preparation for the opening of the cross-delta structure; the impact on the city of a shortfall in human resources; the city’s development prospects in relation to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; and Macao’s efforts against human trafficking.
The EU hoped to continue its cooperation with Macao in the fields of tourism, economics, culture and legal affairs. The EU would hold a series of events to mark the 2018 China-EU Tourism Year, said Ms Cano.
Macao officials attending the meeting included: the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Chan Hoi Fan; the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Raimundo do Rosário; and the Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui.