Macau lawmaker Alan Ho Ion Sang, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in Beijing yesterday likened Hengqin to the ancient “Peach Blossom Spring” concept, as it combines the advantages and strengths of both Macau and the adjacent island where the two places’ integrated development is creating “unprecedented” opportunities and vitality for Macau’s continuous development.
According to DeepSeek, the term “Peach Blossom Spring” (桃花源 – “taohua yuan”) originates from a famous Chinese fable written by poet Tao Yuanming (陶淵明) during the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It describes an idyllic, utopian village hidden from the outside world, where people live in harmony with nature, free from the troubles and conflicts of society. In contemporary usage, “Peach Blossom Spring” has evolved to symbolise several modern concepts, such as a utopian or ideal society, an escape from modern stress, and a personal haven.
Ho, also a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, briefed reporters at the Great Hall of the People before attending yesterday morning’s closing meeting of the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.
Including Ho, nine CPPCC National Committee members gave a press briefing one after another yesterday. Ho was the only one from Macau.
Ho, an indirectly-elected member of the Macau Legislative Assembly (AL), made the remarks when asked by journalists about Hengqin’s development, when he also said that the Macau-Hengqin integrated development has proven to the world that the “One Country, Two Systems” principle is feasible, achievable, and has won people’s hearts.
Ho, a banking consultant by profession, also underlined that various breakthrough achievements have been made in the integration between Macau and Hengqin.
Ho, a vice-chairman of the Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (known as Kai Fong in Cantonese), noted that the Macau New Neighbourhood (MNN) residential estate in Hengqin, a residential project developed for Macau residents to purchase, includes various community facilities such as a school, a health station, and a service centre for senior citizens.
The MNN estate’s elderly service centre is operated by Kai Fong’s Guangdong branch office.
The MNN neighbourhood’s health station is run by the Macau Health Bureau (SSM).
Ho said that since MNN home sales started in late 2023, Kai Fong’s Guangdong branch office has launched various promotional campaigns aiming to enable Macau residents to gain a better understanding of the MNN estate and its community facilities, adding that Kai Fong has organised over 600 trips for Macau residents to visit the MNN estate.
Ho said that many of those who have visited the MNN neighbourhood have become aware that many breakthroughs have been achieved in the integration between Macau and Hengqin concerning residents’ daily life matters.
For instance, Ho pointed out that students of schools in Hengqin run by Macau organisations are entitled to the same benefits as their counterparts studying at schools in Macau, while Macau residents living in Hengqin can choose to visit the MNN neighbourhood’s health station directly run by Macau Health Bureau for medical treatment.
Moreover, Ho noted that Macau residents living in Hengqin can complete Macau public administrative formalities at one of the two 24-hour self-service centres run by the Macau government there.
Macau lawmaker, CPPCC National Committee member Alan Ho Ion Sang speaks to reporters during yesterday’s press briefing at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. – Photo courtesy of China Daily
