An agreement between mainland’s General Administration of Customs and Macao to strengthen cooperation on the management of maritime waters and law enforcement was likely to be signed in May, said the Secretary for Security, Mr Wong Sio Chak.

Mr Wong made the comments on Tuesday (8 March), after attending a graduation event and swearing-in ceremony for senior police officers and fire officers.

Mr Wong said, on the sidelines of the event, that preliminary agreement between Macao and the mainland had been reached on maritime cooperation, and the specifics of law enforcement duties regarding the city’s 85 square kilometres of waters.

He added this was the result of a recent visit to Beijing and a meeting with officials there. It included a meeting with the Minister of the General Administration of Customs, Mr Yu Guangzhou.

In response to questions from reporters, the Secretary said the Macao authorities were highly concerned that a member of the Public Security Police Force facing a disciplinary investigation had gone missing. The authorities continued to pursue an investigation into the case, he said.

Mr Wong confirmed that the police officer under investigation had left Macao after providing assistance to a separate police investigation. No further information could be disclosed at this stage as the officer’s departure from Macao was itself still under investigation, he added.

Mr Wong said any disciplinary investigation against a member of the Public Security Police Force could last up to 45 days under existing rules. An extension could be requested if it were deemed necessary.

Neither a member of the police forces nor a public servant facing a disciplinary investigation could be dismissed prior to adjudication on such a matter, he stressed.