Macao SAR Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) held a press conference about the Lai Chi Vun shipyards area heritage classification on 28^th March at IC Building in Tap Siac Square, where it also announced it would conduct heritage classification of the shipyards area. Moreover, in the MSAR Cultural Heritage Council general meeting of 12^th April, all members agreed the value of Lai Chi Vun shipyards area and supported IC conducting the classification.

Recently, community groups organized a joint signature collection suggesting IC conduct a heritage classification of the Lai Chi Vun shipyards area. Following appropriate analysis, and considering the current situation of the Lai Chi Vun shipyards area, IC will conduct a heritage classification of the area, given the materials provided by community groups matched the requirements of section 20 of the Heritage Act. The statement of the cultural value of the shipyards area provided by community groups also matched the classification standard of section 18 of the Heritage Act.

Lai Chi Vun shipyards comprise the biggest existing shipyard area in Macao. Currently, 16 shipyards exist in Lai Chi Vun area. IC highlighted that the cultural values of Lai Chi Van shipyards area are particularly apparent in the shipbuilding arts and morphology of Lai Chi Van Village, a consequence of the shipbuilding industry as well as the landscape of the area featuring mountains and coastline.

IC president Leung Hio Ming stressed that the Lai Chi Van area would undergo classification and that according to the terms of the Heritage Act it is necessary to suspend demolition work. In addition, with respect to the Heritage Act, the classification procedure should be completed after consultation with the Cultural Heritage Council and the opinions of rights-holders. The general public will also be consulted within 12 months.

In the meantime, all members of the Cultural Heritage Council agreed that the culture of Lai Chi Vun shipyards area was of value. During the meeting, various members suggested accelerating the process of classification; consideration of the setting up of a protection zone; consideration of the safety measures for the shipyards area during the typhoon season; comprehensive consideration of conservation, planning and structure of the shipyards area; combining the overall planning of Coloane in order to highlight the landscape of Coloane and the value of its past shipbuilding industry; setting short and long term goals for preservation projects; and making the shipyards area an example for future cultural heritage preservation.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and Chairman of the Cultural Heritage Council Alexis Tam announced that the Macao SAR Government will accelerate the classification process, conducting various work in accordance with the law; the government will also pay attention to public security in that area. In future, more departments will participate in city planning, while the government will listen intently to different opinions in society regarding city planning.