The Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On, attended the meeting of the Macao organizing committee (OC) for the 8th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting at the Government Headquarters this morning where the Macao OC members briefed him on the preparatory work for the event, which is progressing smoothly.

A joint press conference will be held next Tuesday by the Chief-of-Cabinet of the Chief Executive’s Office and Secretary-General of the Macao OC, Mr Alexis Tam, and all departments concerned, to give the public details of the event.

During the meeting, Mr Tam reported on the overall progress with preparations in the past few months. The Macao OC has held three co-ordination meetings with the National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and corresponding departments in the mainland, and the overall arrangements for the ministerial meeting are confirmed and implemented. The government departments responsible for tourism, information, security and protocol also reported on meeting schedules and venue arrangements, news coverage and promotion support, security, protocol, human resources and recruitment of volunteers. Details were discussed and further decisions were made during the meeting.

The Chief Executive re-iterated that the forthcoming APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting is an important mission of Macao, assigned by the Central People’s Government, and one of the most important tasks of the Macao SAR this year. Through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CNTA, the Macao OC and the government departments concerned, there is smooth and orderly progress with preparations, and comprehensive arrangements have been made. With support from other government departments, the Macao OC will continue striving to ensure this year’s APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting will be safe and successful.

Other officials attending this morning’s meeting included Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Cheong U; Secretary-General of the Executive Council, Ms O Lam; Director of the Macau Government Tourist Office, Ms Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes; Commissioner of the Public Security Police, Mr Ma Io Kun; Director of the Government Information Bureau, Mr Chan Chi Ping; Acting Director of the Protocol, Public Relations and External Affairs Office, Ms Lei Ut Mui; Director of Financial Services Bureau, Ms Vitória Alice Maria da Conceição; and Advisor to the Office of the Chief Executive, Mr Ko Chin Hung.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and China is once again the APEC host country. With the blessing of the Central People’s Government, the Macao SAR Government will host the upcoming APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting 2014.

To make sound preparations for organizing a successful tourism ministerial meeting and achieving the goal of the Central People’s Government, the Chief Executive signed an Executive Order in January to set up an organizing committee for the APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting, which is responsible for all co-ordination work. The order clearly indicates that all public departments and bodies must offer assistance if requested by the organizing committee.