The new Maritime Areas Basic Law bill includes a legal provision that prevents any possible construction projects within the the 85-square-kilometer area from being used for any gaming-related activities, the spokesperson of the Executive Council (ExCo) Leong Heng Teng said Tuesday during a press conference
Leong also said that the council has concluded the analysis on the bill and that it is ready to be sent to the Legislative Assembly (AL) for review.
Leong noted that although the law applies only for future developments to be approved in the new maritime areas, “in principle for the current (sites, approved and being built) they are also not expected (to take part in) any development involving gaming.”
According to Leong, this is a matter of “very clear policy” from the government.
The provision is included under one of the five main sections of the law, namely that related to the Management of the Maritime Areas.
The law establishes that the maritime areas are a “property of the State” and that the Macau government exercises authority over such areas “through the delegation of powers,” as well as having the obligation to inspect all activities taking place within them.
The bill also states that the supervision of the Maritime Areas works would be the responsibility of the Coordinating Committee for Management and Development of Maritime Jurisdiction Areas; a committee created by the government and headed by the Chief Executive that is responsible for the definition of the policy, holding second level decision-making powers over the work done by the entities involved.
