Last week, the third plenary session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) held concurrently with the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) concluded successfully in Beijing. Having attended the events, President Lei Heong Iok and Vice-President Lok Po of the Council of Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI) shared the spirit of the Two Sessions 2020 with all MPI peers and encouraged love for the motherland and love for Macao.  

Being one of the twelve Macao deputies of the NPC, Vice President Lok shares a few major thoughts on this experience. Firstly, in The Report on the Work of the Government, Premier Li Keqiang didn’t propose any economic objectives for this year, which is an adjustment to fit the current condition of the Country due to the pandemic. As a matter of fact, the specific economic indicators have been reflected in the planning of various areas in the Report. Secondly, the Civil Code has been passed, which is the first since the establishment of the New China. The Code complements the Civil Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China, an important component of the national law, and marks a significant leap in China’s construction of the Socialist System of Law, to which the NPC Standing Committee has contributed outstandingly. Thirdly, the Sessions also deliberated the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the Hong Kong SAR to safeguard national security in view of the necessity and urgency of the current situation of our neighbouring region, which has not only aroused reactions locally, but also attracted attention internationally. The decision was made in a timely manner and with high appropriateness. In conclusion, Vice President Lok spoke highly of the Sessions being exceedingly precise and efficient despite the pandemic condition. A new form of meeting has thus been created which has also proved to be a successful one.  

President Lei stated that in the time of the global pandemic, China’s spirit, power and efficiency are manifested in its capability in organizing a meeting of over ten thousand participants in a smooth and safe manner with high productivity and many achievements; a world-class miracle has been accomplished. He also conveyed the contents and principles of the Two Sessions: deliberating new economic development along with expansion of local demand and innovation on development means; securing and maintaining social stability; building Macao with confidence, positivity and diligence while backed by the motherland. In view of the spirit of the Two Sessions, Lei also highlighted a few focuses of work for Macao, including to fully and correctly implement “One Country Two Systems” while calmly and confidently integrating into the motherland, actively participating in the construction of the Greater Bay Area, and tackling the challenges in achieving diversification appropriately. The mission of the education sector in Macao is to promote the development of higher education institutes in the direction of marketization as instructed by the Chief Executive. Being a Macao member of the National Committee of CPPCC and also the President of the Council of MPI, Lei’s experience in performing his duties for the Country and the people has doubled its effect. He has submitted a proposal on “Creating a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Education Cloud Valley of Chinese Culture” and aims to cultivate and infuse the youth of the new era with the passion for Chinese culture, with the new Chinese socialist characters, and with the capability to adopt to the revolutionary changes of the century.

MPI President Im Sio Kei is also deeply impressed by Premier Li’s government work report. The impact and challenges brought to Macao and the mainland by COVID-19 are unprecedented. In this critical period of time, the success of the Two Sessions and the deliberation of different proposals, resolutions and draft bills has fully showcased the extraordinary governance and leadership of our national leaders, proven by their achievements in grasping the trend, taking control, turning risks into opportunities and overcoming difficulties. The Report has also clearly indicated the direction for Hong Kong and Macao in maintaining national security, facilitating better integration of Hong Kong and Macao into the overall national development, and maintaining the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao. In the field of education, the Report proposed to “promote equitable development and quality enhancement in education”, “promote the development of higher education in a connotative manner” and “promote the construction of first-class universities and disciplines”. These objectives are also applicable to the education sector in Macao. Improving the quality of education and nurturing more talents is an important task for the development of Macao and for our Country.

The President of MPI Students’ Union, Lam Chi Chiu, appreciates the effort of the Macao SAR Government in its prevention and control over the epidemic, such as ensuring the provision of masks for the Macao residents, preventing price gouging of masks in Macao, providing masks to Macao students overseas, as well as a series of supporting measures to alleviate the urgent needs. After the closing of the Two Sessions, as a Macao resident, Lam believes that the young people of Macao should follow through the principles of “One Country, Two Systems”, “the people of Macao govern Macao” and a high degree of autonomy, and act in strict accordance with the Constitution and the Basic Law. He also agreed that the development of the Greater Bay Area requires the integration of education, provision of more and multi-dimensional development opportunities to young people, and advocacy of the spirit of loving the Country and loving Macao, so that the young people could fully display their own strengths and make full use of Macao’s advantages and the policies of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, to integrate into the development of Greater the Bay Area for the pursuit of a brighter future.

The Chairman of the MPI Alumni Association, Wong U Kei stated that the year 2020 is the closing year of the 13th Five-Year Plan, yet the unpredictable outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the beginning of the year disrupted the rhythm of our life, and even the Two Sessions was forced to be postponed and shortened. Launching the Two Sessions during the period of combat against the pandemic had fully demonstrated the competence of our country to stand the test of the COVID-19 with its dedication in prevention and control as well as the professionalism of the medical and nursing staff and the support of the entire medical system. During the week-long Sessions, the attending NPC deputies and CPPCC members performed their duties diligently and played their roles as representatives fully, putting forth a good number of proposals and motions covering the fields of education, livelihood, the Greater Bay Area, and many more; they also made the voices of Macao residents heard by the Central Government for the development of the Country. In addition, the NPC Standing Committee passed the law and its implementation in establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanism for safeguarding the national security of the Hong Kong SAR. Certainly, the national security law is something that every country should promote and implement; being a part of the Country, either as a Special Administrative Region or as a Chinese citizen, one is, by all means, obliged to enforce, abide by and uphold this core value.