The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, will lead an official delegation to Beijing from 21 to 23 January to hold discussions with related ministries and commissions of the Central Government on customs clearance facilitation and construction of a passenger passage to be built between Macao and Zhuhai.

A press statement released today by the Government Spokesperson Office said Mr Chui will be accompanied by the Secretary for Transportation and Public Works, Mr Lao Si Io, and the Director-General of the Macao Customs Service, Mr Choi Lai Hang.

The Chief Executive will also visit the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Public Security.

The press statement said the visit would be advantageous in speeding up the implementation of key regional co-operation projects between Macao and Guangdong Province which required support from the central government.

The Guangdong-Macao Co-operation Framework Agreement is one of the key regional co-operation projects which Macao is actively taking part in relation to the opening up of Hengqin Island.

The press statement said beautification of the new passenger passage was top on the agenda to facilitate residents and visitors from Macao and Zhuhai.

Furthermore, the Macao Government will also promote an in-depth study on the feasibility of 24-hour clearance of the present Hengqin and Gongbei checkpoints, and to implement the project gradually.

One-off temporary application for cars transiting Macao and Guangdong province, and cars from Macao transiting to Hengqin, will also be discussed in the meeting, the statement said.

A protocol to build a new passage next to the Bordergate-Gongbei checkpoint to ease heavy traffic, was signed in May 2012. A special group, chaired by the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io, was formed to follow up on the project. Meanwhile, five more subordinate groups related to border defense, customs, inspection and quarantine, traffic and overall planning were created to implement co-operative projects.

Also taking part in the visit will be the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Tam Chun Weng, Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping, Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, and Mr Fong Sio Weng.

During Mr Chui’s absence, the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Ms Florinda Chan will be the acting Chief Executive.