This year marks the 114th anniversary of World Women’s Day, and Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng expressed his hope on Friday that women will continue to play an “important” role in civil society and their families, while also contributing to family harmony, prosperity and stability, as well as the high-quality development in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR).
Addressing the Women’s General Association of Macau’s reception to celebrate International Women’s Day at The Plaza Restaurant in Zape, Ho said in a speech that there was a long way to go in promoting the development and advancement of the women’s cause, acknowledging that the government has been striving to safeguard women’s legitimate rights and interests in multiple ways.
Ho said: “The MSAR government has always attached great importance to, and actively promoted the development of women’s causes. It has continuously improved the legal system and policy measures aimed at protecting women’s rights and interests and creating a favourable environment to ensure that women are given equal opportunities, rights and dignity.”
According to Ho, females make up around 53 percent of Macau’s total population. Macau’s population stood at 681,300 at the end of the third quarter of last year, according to the latest available demographics.
In his speech, Ho highlighted his expectation of the Women’s General Association of Macau (commonly known as Fu Luen in Cantonese) effort to continue to unite women from all walks of life, strive to improve the status of women, protect and fight for the legitimate rights and interests of women, and make significant contributions to the development of women’s affairs in Macau.
Friday’s reception was also attended by Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Vice Chairman Edmund Ho Hau Wah, Foreign Ministry Commissioner Liu Xianfa, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR Director Zheng Xincong and Deputy Director Yan Zhichan, as well as Senior Colonel Gao Haoliang, director of the Political Department of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Macau Garrison, and other high-ranking local and mainland officials.
Fu Luen Chairperson Lau Kam Ling vowed in her speech that her association will continue to focus on contributing to the overall situation, uniting and strengthening the patriotic strength of women from all walks of life, proactively integrating local women into the overall situation of the nation’s development, actively investing into the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the Guangdong-Macau In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, promoting the development of the integrated development of the zone and Macau, as well as supporting the MSAR in accelerating the development of its appropriate economic diversification.
Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng delivers a speech on Friday during the Women’s General Association of Macau’s reception to celebrate International Women’s Day at The Plaza Restaurant in Zape. International Women’s Day takes place on March 8 every year. – Photo: GCS
