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)