Macao officials to consult central authorities on urban planning

A delegation of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government flew to Beijing Wednesday to discuss with the central government urban planning issues concerning the construction controversy over the Guia Lighthouse, Macao's world heritage site.

The delegation led by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Chu Sai On will meet with leaders of China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage and National Committee for UNESCO, and submit a proposal for modifying urban planning around Mt. Guia, where a world heritage site locates.

Chu said the SAR government delegation will consult with the central authorities on the issue.

He also emphasized that despite the rapid development of the island city, leading to large amounts of construction projects outside the protective zones surrounding Mt Guia, protection of the world heritage site is still the main priority of the SAR government.

At the end of last year, China's National Committee for UNESCO received a letter from the director of the World heritage Center of UNESCO, Francesco Bandarin, referring to the impact of certain buildings and some ongoing projects on the framework landscape of the Guia Lighthouse, particularly in its surrounding areas, according to a press release from the SAR government.

The letter was later forwarded to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.