The Government found the present conditions insufficient for implementing the light railway system project suggested in the recent consultation, said the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Ao Man Long today (15 April).

Mr. Ao said that the decision, which was made after taken into consideration the uncertainties that confronted the regional and global economies, was in line with the overall development plan of the Macao SAR.

He said that the Government had thoroughly studied the consultant report on the feasibility of the light railway system, as well as the opinion voiced by various sectors over the subject.

Mr. Ao said that the Government would in the future conduct studies on improving the mass transportation in Macao, the integration into the regional transportation network, in order to meet the demand imposed by Macao’s development as a tourism city.

He pointed out a number of factors relevant to Macao’s overall transportation plan, such as local economic and social development, closer links between Macao and the Pearl River Delta, the necessity to integrate into the flourishing regional transportation network and the enhancement of local transportation for the resident’s satisfaction.

Mr. Ao said that the enhancement of the local transportation was a long-term task for the Macao Government and the consultative report on the light railway system was a valuable reverence as it was furnished with many technical data and had pointed out the direction for the development of the mass transportation system in Macao.