The Chief Executive, Mr Edmund Ho Hau Wah, has arrived in Hainan today for tomorrow’s opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2009.

Speaking to reporters at the airport before his departure, Mr Ho said he would update Premier Wen Jiabao on Macao’s latest development if they had the opportunity to meet there.

Asked about the drop in tax revenue in the first quarter of the year, Mr Ho said it was within expectation, due to the economic boom in the past few years and the impact of the current global financial crisis.

He said Macao could expect a decrease in the tax revenue this year, though the figure would be within the expectation of the Government.

Asked about the election of his successor, Mr Ho said that the Chief Executive Election Committee will be formed on April 26 and he expected the electoral procedure and election date would be announced early next month.