Macau | Gov’t to further improve car park closure measures used during Typhoon Signal No.8

Macau (MNA) – The Macau SAR Government will review and seek to improve its measures of closing down underground car parks located at the low-lying areas when a Typhoon Signal Number 8 is hoisted, remarked the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Raimundo Arrais do Rosário on a sideline of the 60th Anniversary celebration cocktail reception of Macao Daily Newspaper on Wednesday.

The government ordered to close down 13 public car parks temporarily on Tuesday due to the Typhoon Signal Number 8, hoisted for dive hours due to the passage of Typhoon Bebinca.

The closure of car parks is a recent measure implemented to prevent the casualties that occurred during the passage of Typhoon Hato last year, when several car owners were killed by quick flooding in underground car parks.

However, yesterday’s closure of car parks has sparked criticism in the city over their disorderly arrangement.

“We will review [the measure],” said the Secretary. “But we will definitely continue to run the measure because we don’t want tragedy to happen again.”

Meanwhile, asked about the new land at Coloane to accommodate the greyhounds by the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome Co. Ltd, the Secretary said that no official permission is required from the Land, Public Works and Transport Bureau (DSSOPT).

“But the [land] owner needs to provide a more detailed plan and DSSOPT will refer the matter and ask consultation from other public departments,” the Secretary noted.

He explained that the owner is not mandated to get a consultation from the Urban Planning Committee because the land does not have a registered plan for the land.

In previous proposal, Yat Yuen had suggested to rehouse the 533 greyhounds in a building in Pac On.