Ho urges local officials to adopt spirit of CPC Central Committee 3rd plenum

Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng convened and chaired a session on Friday briefing top and senior local officials about the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20^th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was held from July 15 to 18.

According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) on Friday, Ho said during the session that local officials at all levels must ensure the full implementation of the central authorities’ decisions and plans for Macau, enabling the city to embrace the 75^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the 25^th anniversary of its return to the motherland with “excellent results and new development achievements”.

The session held at Government Headquarters on Friday afternoon was attended by Ho’s five policy secretaries and their respective chiefs-of-cabinet, other principal officials, as well as all the heads of the government’s about 70 bureaus and other bureau-level entities, according to the statement.

Ho was flanked by his five policy secretaries during the session.

The statement said that Ho delivered an important speech during the session, leading the officials to “earnestly” study and comprehend the spirit of the third plenary session of the CPC 20^th Central Committee, where the five secretaries also shared their insights.

Milestone meeting

According to the statement, Ho pointed out that the third plenary session of the CPC 20^th Central Committee was a milestone meeting convened at a critical period of building a strong country and moving towards national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernisation. The third plenary session adopted the Resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation, systematically planning a string of strategic and overall major reform measures, Ho noted.

Ho said that studying and implementing well the spirit of the third plenary session of the CPC 20^th Central Committee is an important task for Macau at present and in the near future. Local officials at all levels must take the lead in in-depth learning, unify their thoughts and actions with the central authorities’ decisions and plans, and combine them with the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s important speeches on Macau’s work, with Macau’s current situation and with their own duties and functions, with the aim of transforming their understanding of the spirit of the third plenary session into a “powerful force” to promote Macau’s continuous development, the statement quoted Ho as saying.

During Friday’s session, the statement said, Ho “comprehensively, systematically and profoundly expounded on the great significance and main contents of the third plenary session of the CPC 20^th Central Committee”, and shared his insights in combination with Macau’s current situation.

Ho underlined the need for local officials to implement well the decisions and plans for Macau made during the third plenary session of the 20^th CPC Central Committee with a strong sense of responsibility, with the aim of helping the country improve its system and mechanism for high-standard opening up.

5 aspects

Ho said that local officials must strongly push ahead with governance in five aspects in close combination with Macau’s current situation, namely safeguarding national security, enhancing governance efficiency, improving the population’s wellbeing, promoting high-quality economic development, and strengthening the local forces in “Loving the Country and Loving Macau”, with the aim of constantly making new achievements in the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle with Macau characteristics by adopting the third plenary session’s “reform spirit”.

According to the statement, Ho pledged that the local government will unite and lead all sectors of Macau’s civil society in order to promote the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20^th CPC Central Committee.

Ho said that local officials at all levels must ensure the full implementation of the central authorities’ decisions and plans for Macau, further strengthen their sense of responsibility and mission, and integrate the spirit of the third plenary session into their governance work in various aspects, with the aim of enabling Macau to embrace the 75^th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and the 25^th anniversary of its return to the motherland with “excellent results and new development achievements”.

5 policy secretaries’ insights

During Friday’s session, the GCS statement said, Secretary for Administration and Justice André Cheong Weng Chon pledged that his portfolio will strengthen the integration of regulations between Macau and the other cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA), continue to deepen Macau’s public administration reform, and streamline the procedures of the public administration services by promoting e-government.

Secretary for Economy and Finance Lei Wai Nong said that the local government will make new achievements in developing new quality productive forces, enhance Macau’s international reputation as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, and promote the city’s appropriate economic diversification.

Secretary for Security Wong Sio Chak said that the local government will ensure the full implementation of the plans listed by the third plenary session’s resolution concerning the safeguarding of national security.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U said that her portfolio will push ahead with its talent acquisition programme, improve Macau’s education system, and train more scientific and technological talents. 

Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo do Rosário pledged that with special emphasis to be placed on areas such as housing, transport and environmental protection, his portfolio will push ahead with infrastructure projects, ensure local residents’ access to basic housing conditions, and build a green, liveable and beautiful Macau. 

Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng addresses Friday’s session at Government Headquarters about the spirit of the third plenary session of the CPC 20^th Central Committee. – Photos: GCS

Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng addresses Friday’s session at Government Headquarters about the spirit of the third plenary session of the CPC 20^th Central Committee.