China's State Council, or cabinet, decided on Thursday to remove a senior Macao transportation official from his post.

Ao Man Long, Secretary for Transport and Public Works of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR), was arrested by the local Commission Against Corruption on Wednesday night.

He was charged with involvement in bribery and irregular financial activities, according to a Macao government statement on its website.

The central government's decision was made with the suggestion of Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the MSAR.

The Macao government statement called on officials at all levels to behave honestly in performing their official duties.

(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2006)