The Government attaches much importance to anything that promotes exchanges between Hong Kong and Macao, the Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said today.

Asked about some Hong Kong residents who were denied entry to Macao, Mr Ho said the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, Mr Donald Tsang Yam-kuen, had expressed concern to him on behalf of himself and the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Mr Ho said that Macao maintained a positive attitude in promoting Hong Kong-Macao relationship and placed much importance to anything that would promote exchanges.

He said the Macao police had acted in accordance with the law and he believed they would not have made decisions that were detrimental to the exchanges between Hong Kong and Macao.

He said he believed that the relationship between Hong Kong and Macao would be closer in the future.