国内英语新闻:Macao to enhance disaster prevention, relief work next year: chief executive

MACAO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chief Executive of China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Chui Sai On said Tuesday that the SAR government will take a series of measures to strengthen its disaster prevention and relief work next year.

Chui made the remarks in the Policy Address for the Fiscal Year 2018 at the Legislative Assembly, entitled "Seeking Pragmatic Progress for Inclusive Development".

He said that with the assistance of the experts from the National Commission for Disaster Reduction, the SAR government will strengthen its infrastructure construction, put priority the life and property security of its residents, and enhance its disaster prevention and relief work.

In the short-term, the SAR government will improve its infrastructure on flood controlling and drainage, as well as its abilities of supplying electricity, water and telecommunication in case of emergencies.

In the long-term, it will enhance its planning for infrastructure construction, such as underground pipelines and windproof design for high buildings. It will also set up an information publishing platform, and train more meteorological personnel.

The SAR government will also seek to strengthen its cooperation with the Chinese mainland on disaster prevention and relief work, Chui added.

Powerful Typhoon Hato struck Macao on Aug. 23, resulting in the deaths of 10 people and injuries of more than 244 others, with a heavy loss of 11.5 billion patacas (about 1.42 billion U.S. dollars).