Representatives of Seac Pai Van residents Tuesday handed a petition against the storage of hazardous materials near their homes, addressed to Chief Executive Fernando Chui Sai On, to an official outside Government Headquarters.
The representatives told reporters that the petition was signed by over 7,200 residents.
The petition accused the government of having failed to consult the affected residents about its plan to build two warehouses for hazardous materials in the Concordia Industrial Park area near Coloane’s massive Seac Pai Van public housing estate and other residential buildings there.
The petitioners claimed that one of the planned warehouses would be located less than 200 metres from their homes. They pointed out that in mainland China warehouses of hazardous materials must be located at least 1,000 metres from residential buildings. They also pointed out that the hazardous materials would be stored near the Macau’s giant pandas enclosure, who are considered “national treasures” by the central government.
The petitioners were accompanied by lawmakers Ng Kuok Cheong, Au Kam San, Jose Maria Pereira Coutinho and Sulu Sou Ka Hou who voiced their support.
Meanwhile, the chief executive said on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Ilha Verde Health Centre yesterday morning that his government would provide the public with more details of the project, such as the type of hazardous materials to be stored there and the planned emergency response measures in case of an accident.
Chui said that the government remained committed to ensuring public safety.
Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak later told reporters on the sidelines of another public function that the government was paying extreme attention to the storage of hazardous materials, adding that the government was “perfectly understanding” residents’ concerns about the matter. Wong said he was ready to listen to citizens’ views on the government’s hazardous materials warehouse project, which was greenlighted by the government-appointed Urban Planning Council last month.
