Over 60 specialists and representatives from 14 Asia-Pacific Countries and Regions gathered in Macau to discuss measures in preventing and minimizing typhoon damages.

The ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee held its 33rd Session in Macau on 27 November. Chief Executive Edmund Ho and Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ago Man-long presided at the opening ceremony.

Ago said that the conference offered a good opportunity for the Members of the Typhoon Committee to promote and coordinate joint efforts to minimize typhoon damage in the Asia-Pacific Region, as a way to protect the economic and social well being of the population of Member Countries/Territories.

Ao stressed that the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau will continue to provide timely and reliable warning information about and warning against typhoons and severe weather conditions for Macau citizen.

The main participants of the conference included:

LeHuu Ti, Representative of the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social commission for Asia and the Pacific, Eisa H. AI-Majed, representative of the Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization, Dr. Hong Kung Lam, Vice Chairman of the Typhoon Committee, and Lim Joo Tick, The president of the WMO Regional Association.

The Typhoon Committee was founded in 1968 by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the World Meteorological Organization. Starting from the 90's, Macau has been participating in the Committee. Macau became one of the members in 1992 and in 1994, Macau held the 27th Session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee.