Interview with CE-designate Sam Hou Fai
Fu Zimei, Jiang Lin, Ren Chengqi
“In the 25 years since Macau returned to the motherland, the practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems ‘ with Macau characteristics has achieved world-renowned achievements, which fully proves the strong vitality and great superiority of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.” Sam Ho Fai, the incoming sixth chief executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR), has told People’s Daily in a recent interview.
Standing at a new starting point, MSAR government must sum up experience and give full play to the advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems “ practice to create a better tomorrow for Macau and make greater contributions to the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation, Sam said. On the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland, Sam was interviewed by the media and answered their questions on promoting the practice of “One Country, Two Systems “, future governance priorities, and better integrating Macau into and serving the overall development of the country. He expressed his confidence and determination to “work hard and uphold innovation”.
The chief executive is the leading person to strengthen the mission of “One Country, Two Systems”
“Macau has undergone earth-shaking changes since its return. The practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ has achieved world-renowned achievements. The majority of Macau residents have directly experienced and deeply felt it,” Sam said, adding that the practice has proved that “One Country, Two Systems” is in line with the fundamental interests of the country and the nation. “A good system that serves Macau’s fundamental interests,” he stressed.
Sam has served Macau in public service for a long time. After Macau’s return to the motherland, he served as the president of the Court of Final Appeal (TUI) of the MSAR for nearly 25 years. He has made positive contributions to the accurate implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy and the Macau Basic Law, as well as to Macau’s prosperity and stability.
In the election for the sixth chief executive of the MSAR held on October 13, Sam was elected as the sixth chief executive with 394 valid votes.
On November 1, President Xi Jinping met with Sam at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
“President Xi and the central government have placed their trust in me, and I feel honoured that the central government has appointed me as the chief executive. This is the honour of my life.” Sam said. “President Xi is very optimistic about the future development of Macau, especially the new MSAR government including me. As he has made a clear request, the president hopes that we can unite all sectors of Macau society to continuously create new situations in the practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ with Macau characteristics, and make greater contributions to the construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation.” Sam also said that he will work with the new MSAR government to deal with the situation. “Together with the governance team, we will unite and lead all sectors of Macau society to work together to live up to President Xi Jinping’s trust and go all out to conscientiously implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important instructions,” Sam said.
“The chief executive is the leading person responsible for promoting the steady and long-term implementation of Macau’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle,” Sam said, adding that the “One Country, Two Systems” policy will be fully, accurately and unswervingly implemented.
“Maintaining the nation’s sovereignty, security, and development interests is the highest principle of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy,” Sam said, adding that “One Country” is the premise and foundation of “Two Systems”. Sam also said that he will adhere to the bottom line of the “One Country” principle and consciously safeguard the and central government overall jurisdiction over the MSAR and the authority of the MSAR Basic Law, as well as consciously consider issues from the standpoint of the overall interests of the country and the fundamental interests of Macau.
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) emphasised the need to give full play to the advantages of the “One Country, Two Systems” policy and improve the mechanism for Hong Kong and Macau to better play their role in the country’s opening-up to the outside world, Sam pointed out, adding that Macau should set up a hub for international high-end talents to help achieve the second-phase goal of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, assist the development of the Greater Bay Area (GBA), and assist in the development of the country.
“Regarding the SAR government, it must be strong and efficient,” Sam said, stressing that it must continuously improve its governance capabilities and management levels, and constantly create new situations in the practice of “One Country, Two Systems” with Macau characteristics.
Appropriate economic diversification is not a research topic but a must-answer question
“The majority of Macau residents have truly felt the various rights and benefits brought by the return to the motherland,” Said, adding that Macau must be developed on the existing basis to further allow Macau residents to feel more gains brought by “One Country, Two Systems”.
Sam also said that after announcing his candidacy and before proposing his political platform, he listened to the opinions and suggestions of Macau citizens from all walks of life, industries and strata by “going out” and “inviting in”.
Sam’s 4 major visions: Macau Built on the Rule of Law; Dynamic Macau; Cultural Macau; and Happy Macao
“The strong support from the central government and the mainland has given us the confidence to advance the four major visions and promote the practice of ‘One Country, Two Systems’ in Macau to achieve greater achievements. This confidence is extremely strong and profound,” Sam said, adding that his four major visions are to stand on a new starting point. “We must further sum up experience and better leverage the advantages of the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle,” he said.
Appropriately diversified economic development is related to Macau’s long-term prosperity and stability and the vital interests of its citizens, Sam said. “Appropriate economic diversification is not a subject to be studied, but a question that must be answered.” Sam said firmly, “All sectors of Macau society deeply feel the accuracy of the central government and President Xi’s foresight and judgment.”
Regarding promoting the appropriate diversification of the economy, Sam said that the new MSAR government will take pro-active measures to coordinate the implementation of the “Appropriate Economic Diversification Development Plan of the Macau Special Administrative Region (2024-2028)” and establish a system conducive to promoting the appropriate diversification of the economy.
Sam also said that the MSAR government should be a promising government, such as proactively setting up industry funds such as technology and cultural tourism development to guide and attract investment and create a good investment environment; give full play to the role of “One Centre, One Platform and One Base” and combine Macau’s development with the one in Hengqin.
“The development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin will coordinate and arrange a package of policies on the economy, civil and commercial law, finance and taxation, and immigration management to create a good policy foundation for appropriate economic diversification, and also build a platform to allow international high-end technologies and talents to not only ‘come here’, but also ‘stay here’ and improve the business environment,” Sam said.
“Appropriate economic diversification is not enough for the MSAR government to consider,” Sam said, adding he believes that it is necessary to work with research institutions and teams, and all sectors of society to jointly explore industrial routes suitable for the appropriate diversification of Macau’s economy and identify the industries that are beneficial to Macau ‘s long-term development. Projects, especially major projects, will raise the setting-up of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to a new level and help the appropriately diversified development of Macau’s economy.
Integrating into the overall development of the country is not only a duty to serve the country, but also an opportunity for development, Sam stressed.
He pointed out that it has been more than five years since the “Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area” was released. Sam underlined that “the Greater Bay Area is full of vitality in all aspects, especially high-tech development. The Greater Bay Area has a very solid foundation.”
He also said that integrating itself into the overall development of the country is what Macau should do to serve the country, as it is also a development opportunity for the MSAR.
In Sam’s view, Macau should do a good job in several aspects to give full play to its special status and unique advantages and better integrate into the overall development of the country.
The first is to leverage Macau ’s unique advantages, especially its advantage in connecting with high-end talents from Portuguese-speaking countries, as well as to jointly promote the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area to accelerate the construction of an international science and technology innovation centre.
The second is, according to Sam, to improve and accelerate the interconnection between Macau and other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, and combine Macau ’s unique advantages with various elements of the Greater Bay Area to jointly promote development;
The third is, Sam said, to rationally optimise the industrial layout of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. Macau will integrate the construction of “One Centre, One Platform and One Base” and coordinate with other cities in the GBA to give full play to their respective advantages.
The fourth is to improve people-to-people and cultural exchanges and set up a liveable and business-friendly environment to provide better conditions for Macau residents to integrate into Hengqin’s development, Sam said.
“The construction of a strong country and national rejuvenation are closely linked to the future of Macau and residents’ happiness. As a member of the big family of the motherland, Macau should keep up with the pace of the country, give full play to its unique advantages, strengthen its contributions and make further progress,” Sam said. He also said that the new MSAR government will continue to work with Macau residents on the new journey of building a strong country and rejuvenating the nation, and continue to write a new chapter in the successful practice of “One Country, Two Systems” with Macau characteristics.
– Courtesy of People’s Daily
N.B. The article was published by People’s Daily yesterday. The translation of the unabridged text, including its headline, was arranged by the Post.
Macau SAR Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai giving media representatives an interview in Macau recently. – Undated file photo: TDM
