The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) held a ceremony yesterday at the Dom Pedro V Theatre to mark the 20th anniversary of the Historic Centre of Macao’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Historic Centre embodies Macao’s unique position as a city where East and West come together, and includes 22 monuments and eight plazas connected by the old city’s streets, comprising residential, religious and public Portuguese and Chinese buildings.
During the opening ceremony, the Post and Telecommunications Bureau launched the 20th anniversary commemorative stamps, while the Cultural Affairs Bureau unveiled the “Let’s Explore the World Heritage!” programme, which offers over 50 activities on Macao’s architectural and cultural heritage from July to December.
[See more: Construction of Macao’s UNESCO World Heritage exhibition hall to be ‘fast tracked’]
According to local media reports, IC Director Leong Wai Man has said that the UNESCO World Heritage Centre has mandated a Heritage Impact Assessment for Macao’s flyover construction project in New Urban Zone Area A and B and Light Rail East Line projects, which cannot proceed until the assessment is reviewed.
She also mentioned that updated design plans for a high-rise building project on Guia Hill have been submitted to UNESCO, which confirmed that the project can move forward without an assessment.
Leong emphasised that Macao must submit a conservation report to the World Heritage Committee by the end of 2026, a standard requirement for UNESCO heritage sites across the world.
