Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng has listed today four key points to achieve further results in Macau’s ongoing development drive.
Ho revealed the four points in his National Day address during a reception hosted by the local government for about 900 guests at the China-Portuguese-speaking Countries Commercial and Trade Service Platform Complex (Forum Macao Complex) in Nam Van.
The reception was attended by senior local and central government officials and local community leaders including Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) Zheng Xincong, Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the MSAR Liu Xianfa, Macau Legislative Assembly President Kou Hoi In, and Court of Final Appeal (TUI) President Sam Hou Fai.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) about the reception, Ho listed the following key points for Macau’s further development:
1) Macau must optimise its legal system and law enforcement mechanism concerning national security, as well as firmly safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests;
2) Macau must speed up its appropriate economic diversification and firmly implement President Xi Jinping’s instructions to plan and further promote sustainable and healthy economic development by carrying out policies adapted to Macau’s actual economic situation and making use of a scientific approach. Ho underlined that the local government has begun preparing its Development Plan for Appropriate Economic Diversification of the MSAR (2024-2028);
3) The local government must continue to ensure and further improve people’s wellbeing, based on its fundamental concept of governing for the people and the principle that the improvement of people’s standard of living has a high priority on its policy agenda;
4) The local government should make every effort to promote the development of the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. Ho pointed out that especially since the beginning of this year, major regulations and policies have been implemented, key projects have been sped up and the integrated development of Macau and Hengqin has been deepened, laying a solid foundation for completing next year the first phase of the zone’s development goals.
In his speech, Ho expressed his gratitude to President Xi for always taking a close interest in the development of Macau. He also said his government would “comprehensively and correctly” uphold the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, firmly safeguard the overall jurisdiction of the Central People’s Government over Macau and firmly safeguard the nation’s sovereignty, security and development interests.
Noting that the motherland is Macau’s most powerful backup, Ho also acknowledged that Macau’s prosperity and stability could not be achieved without the long-term strong support by the central authorities. He also said that Macau’s economic recovery has maintained sound momentum thanks to the central authorities’ various favourable policies.
Ho also emphasised that the government will continue to implement the fundamental principle of “patriots governing Macau” and, among other things, “focus on improving people’s livelihoods, solve the deep-rooted problems that constrain Macau’s social and economic development, and actively push for Macau’s integration into the nation’s overall development.”
On the sidelines of the reception, Ho told reporters that public servants’ salaries would be raised from January 1, 2024.
Earlier in the morning, Ho and around 550 guests attended a solemn National Day flag-raising ceremony in Golden Lotus Square in Zape.
– MPD
MSAR Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng delivers a speech during today’s National Day reception hosted by the local government at the Forum Macao Complex. – Photo: GCS
