Macao's newly appointed Secretary for Transport and Public Works Lau Si Io said  on Friday that he is to raise the transparency to the public and to fulfill the duty with "practical and honest attitude."

Lau, former president of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, told a press conference that he is grateful to China's central government and the government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (MSAR) for their trust.

He said a significant part of his new job is to implement the economic development policy of the government, which needs more effort to communicate with the public.

The official pledged to maintain the cooperation well with the Commission Against Corruption (CAC), which put his predecessor in jail last December.

Ao Man Long, former Secretary for Transport and Public Works, has been in custody for allegedly being involved in a corruption case.

Lau was appointed by the central government earlier on the day.

(Xinhua News Agency February 17, 2007)