Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng’s 2023 Policy Address, which he delivered in the hemicycle of the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday afternoon, stressed efforts to shore up the economy and mitigate public difficulties while keeping the COVID-19 epidemic under control.
Macau’s economy has been gradually recovering in the past year thanks to the strong support from the central government and mainland provinces and municipalities, Ho said, adding that his government had managed to maintain economic and social stability and made progress in achieving appropriate economic diversification.
Looking forward to next year, Ho said the local government will focus on speeding up economic recovery and diversification, stepping up infrastructure construction, and optimizing work on improving people’s livelihood while continuing to contain the epidemic.
The local government will stay committed to the policy of building Macau into a world tourism and leisure center while continuously promoting the development of other major industries including health, modern finance, hi-tech, conventions and exhibitions, and culture and sports, Ho stressed.
Faced with an increasingly severe security situation, the local government will persist in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and firmly prevent and stop external forces from interfering in Macau’s internal affairs, the chief executive said.
Ho, a former president of the local legislature, also said the Macau government will further strengthen efforts to continue advancing amendments to the law on safeguarding national security and its supporting legislation, implement the enforcement mechanism, and fully support the advisers to the Committee for Safeguarding National Security of the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) in performing their duties.
Noting that 2023 is key to deepening the building of the Guangdong-Macau In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, Ho said the local government will work with Guangdong province to continuously improve the new model of mutual consultation, joint construction, joint administration and shared benefits to promote the integration in Hengqin.
The MSAR government will work closely with Guangdong to orderly advance legislation in the cooperation zone, facilitate the implementation of supporting supervision and taxation policies as well as major supporting measures such as expanding market access, and building a legal system that deeply integrates with Macau in the civil and commercial areas, Ho said.
He also mentioned the need to promote the quality development of modern finance, hi-tech industries and the “big health” industry, and actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Macau’s fiscal and calendar years are identical.
– Xinhua, MPD
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng delivers his 2023 Policy Address in the hemicycle of the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday afternoon. – Photo: GCS
Lawmakers listen to Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng 2023 Policy Address during yesterday’s plenary session of the legislature.
– Photo: GCS
