The Ministry of Justice authorized, for the first time, notaries
in Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR),
to strengthen economic links between Macao and the mainland.
Minister of Justice Wu Aiying presented notary certificates to
five Macao attorneys yesterday, the first batch of notaries to be
authorized by the ministry.
The Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) signed in
2003 between Macao and the mainland was aimed at improving economic
and trade links between the two, Vice Minister of Justice Duan
Zhengkun said.
According to the CEPA, Macao's service providers must hand in
documents notarized by Macao's notary department or by the notaries
authorized by the central government before they enjoy any
favorable policies, Duan said.
Prior to this, notarization work was carried out by local
notaries, Chinese embassies and agents approved by the Ministry of
Justice. But there were no direct appointments by the central
government.
The implementation of CEPA has boosted Macao's economic
development. Government statistics show that Macao's economy
registered a growth rate of 28.6 percent in 2004, the highest in
two decades.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2006)