In another effort to boost Macao's bidding for the World Cultural Heritage, an official website on cultural heritage protection was set up and went into trial operation, said a cultural official in Macao.

Chan Chak Sing, chief of the Cultural Heritage Department of the Macao Culture Institute said Wednesday that the website www.macauheritage.net will be ready for an official launch in September.

It is not merely an introduction website, but an interactive and timely-updated cultural website, which will be a main channel for an unanimous effort to support Macao's bidding for the World Cultural Heritage next year, he added.

Macao's bidding under the name of the Macao Historical Architecture Clump for the World Cultural Heritage embraces 12 priceless cultural heritage sites, including China's oldest church, Christian cemetery, lighthouse and western theater.

The bidding has been designated as China's only nomination to apply for the World Heritage selection of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005. 

Chan said that the World Cultural Heritage bidding sites will not be the focus for the promotion on the website. All Macao's 128 cultural sites will have their presence on the website to give the audience an overall picture of Macao's 400-year history.
 
(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2004)