The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today called for all sectors of Macao society to continue upholding their spirit of loyalty to the country and to Macao, joining forces to move forward and make the city a better home for Macao people.
The Government would persist in adhering to the principle of "One country, two systems" with Macao characteristics; and help Macao make its due contributions to realise the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, the Chief Executive said.
Mr Ho made the remarks during a reception to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the establishment of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). The reception was held at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex.
The year 2020 marked the commencement of the fifth-term Macao SAR Government. It had also been an extraordinary and extremely challenging year, Mr Ho said.
Over those 12 months, helped by the protection and full support of the Central Government, Macao had maintained a record of zero epidemic-related deaths; zero community and hospital transmissions; low numbers in terms of severe cases; and successful recovery of all patients. The Macao SAR Government had diligently joined forces with people in all walks of life to promote the healthy economic development of Macao and maintain the overall stability of society.
The coming year would mark the first year of the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan, and the starting point for implementation of the second Five-Year Development Plan of the Macao SAR, the Chief Executive said.
Macao, in entering a new stage of development, and facing a new environment for such development, needed to be more open-minded and innovative. Macao should continue promoting diversification of its industrial base; deepen the development of Centre and Platform policies and of a multi-cultural exchange and cooperation base with an emphasis on Chinese culture; and participate in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt and Road initiative in a pragmatic and orderly manner.
Macao should also strengthen its functions in facilitating the linkage between the domestic-cycle portion and international-cycle portion of the country’s dual-circulation development pattern, in order to make contributions to the country’s reform and opening up in the new era.
Mr Ho pointed out that the SAR Government would on one hand, spare no effort in paying attention to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic and carefully implement all details of pandemic prevention and control.
On the other hand, he added, the SAR Government would launch proactive and effective financial policies and relief measures in order to: achieve economic recovery; support, in a targeted way, small and medium-sized enterprises; protect local residents’ employment; optimise Government work to support Macao people's well-being; and especially intensify promotion of adequate economic diversification.
The Chief Executive stated it was necessary to launch new measures and make fresh progress in order to realise sustainable development with adequate economic diversification.
In his speech, Mr Ho also said the SAR Government would continue deepening public administration reform and development of the legal system. It would also improve standards of public governance in order to ensure a modern, corruption-free, fair, and highly-efficient, service-orientated public administration system that operated for the convenience of the public and of businesses.
The SAR Government would also: facilitate development of digital government to enhance administrative effectiveness; strive to promote effectively the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, and the Basic Law of the Macao SAR; fulfil Macao’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the sovereignty, security and development interests of the country; enhance public awareness of national security; and strengthen collaboration between the Government and society to consolidate the political foundation for developing a patriotic society, Mr Ho said.
Mr Ho stressed steps were needed to prevent infiltration and interference by external forces, in order to ensure the stability of the Macao SAR. In addition, the SAR Government would ensure the efficient organisation of the seventh Legislative Assembly election next year, to make sure it would be conducted in a fair, impartial and open manner.
Approximately 900 guests attended today’s reception for the 21st anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR. Guests attending the reception included: Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Mr Ho Hau Wa; Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, Mr Zhang Rongshun; Mr Chui Sai On; Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao SAR, Ms Wang Dong; the Commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macao Garrison, Mr Xu Liangcai; the President of the Legislative Assembly, Mr Kou Hoi In; the President of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Sam Hou Fai; members of the Executive Council and of the Legislative Assembly; Government principal officials; Macao’s delegates to the National People’s Congress and to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference; and people from across the community.
In the morning, the Chief Executive and approximately 510 guests had attended a flag-raising ceremony held at Golden Lotus Square, to mark the 21st anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR.
