Press realese by Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee:

The 47th Macau Grand Prix started the practice race today, November 16th 2000. The Secretary for Macau Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Chui Sai On visited the Grand Prix Building and the Race Control Tower this morning.

At 9:00a.m, accompanied by the Chairman Mr Joao Manuel Costa Antunes and other senior officials of Macau Grand Prix Organising Committee, Mr Chui Sai On, inspected the Race Control Tower.

Afterwards he entered the office of the Organising Committee in the Grand Prix Building and learned about the functional operations. He inspected the media centre and media lounge respectively.

When interviewed in the media lounge, he said that this year¡¦s race meeting is the first Grand Prix of Macau after its reunification with China. The government of Macau Special Administrative Region regards this as a very important event and would support the race to be continuously successful.

He pointed out that over 700 local and overseas media people registered to join this international sports event, which is more effective than any other project in strengthening the tourist image of Macau and promoting Macau as a cultural-tourist city.

He continued that the government would keep this prestigious sports event and wish to provide further support and training to the local racers in the future.