The Central Government has approved – following a request from Macao’s Chief Executive, Mr Chui Sai On – the use of the People's Liberation Army Macao Garrison in relief work to alleviate the impact of Typhoon Hato.

The action by the Chief Executive is in line with the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Garrison Law of the Macao SAR.

Under the terms of those documents, the Macao SAR Government may, if necessary, ask the Central People of Government for assistance from the PLA Macao Garrison for the maintenance of social order and relief of natural disasters.

As of 25 August, personnel of the PLA Macao Garrison have joined hands with the Macao SAR Government and the Macao public for post-typhoon relief and construction work, in order to ensure proper social order and to help people resume their normal lives as quickly as possible.

On 23 August, Typhoon Hato – the strongest recorded storm in Macao for 53 years – struck the city, causing nine human fatalities and injuring some 240 people as well as resulting in enormous economic losses.

Typhoon Hato and the storm-related flooding have severely affected the lives and work of the Macao public, despite the Government’s all-out efforts in coordinating resources and taking effective measures to limit the effects of the typhoon and the losses resulting from it.