The Chief Executive, Mr Ho Iat Seng, today said the Government would continue to create the right conditions within local society to allow Macanese culture to be inherited and preserved in Macao.

Speaking at a lunch reception hosted for representatives of the local Macanese community, Mr Ho stated Macanese people were an important component of the local population, saying they had made positive contributions to the development of Macao.

Mr Ho said he looked forward to continued participation from the Macanese community in relation to Macao’s development. The community’s network with Macanese communities overseas served as a bridge for Macao to strengthen external ties, in particular exchanges with Portuguese-speaking countries. These efforts would help Macao to promote stories of how the city had successfully implemented the “One country, two systems” principle, and had facilitated people-to-people exchanges. Such efforts would make a contribution to Macao’s long-term stability and prosperity, Mr Ho added.

The Government would continue to support the maintenance in Macao of the local Macanese community. Mr Ho added that its language, culture, traditions, customs, and religious beliefs would as always be respected in Macao.

The Chief Executive went on to say that Macanese culture was a significant indicator of diversity within the wider local culture, and played a crucial role in promoting exchanges between China and the West. Macanese gastronomy, as well as the Patuá theatre tradition, were included on Macao’s list of intangible cultural heritage, Mr Ho noted.

In his speech, Mr Ho reviewed the concerted effort displayed across the local community during what had been an arduous 2020, in terms of combatting locally the COVID-19 pandemic. Macao’s achievements so far in anti-epidemic work had helped the city accelerate its economic recovery and make steady progress in every sector. These efforts, including the contribution of the local Macanese community, had won affirmation from the Central Government, Mr Ho noted.

In 2021, Macao would in likelihood continue to be affected by the pandemic, and by external political and economic fluctuations. Challenges and opportunities would co-exist, the Chief Executive said. The Government would work closely with the community in order diligently and comprehensively to uphold the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s instructions regarding development of Macao. The Government would also strive to push ahead with epidemic prevention and control work, and advance social development, he added.

Meanwhile, Macao would spare no effort in optimising local legislation and regulations in order to safeguard national security, including reviewing relevant law enforcement mechanisms. The Government would dedicate further effort to promote economic diversification, care for people’s livelihoods, integrate further into overall national development, and advance the successful practice of “One country, two systems” in Macao, Mr Ho said.